Did you know that there are over six million automobile accidents within the United States yearly? Luckily, in most cases, automobile accidents only lead to damage in to property however, in one in three cases, auto accidents also end in personal injury.
Even when you’ve got by no means had an accident earlier than or you don’t drive your car very often, there is always the possibility that you may be concerned in an accident by means of no fault of your own. In case you are aware of the steps you must take after an auto accident, you will be higher prepared to protect yourself and your passengers from injury and you will be aware of what it is advisable to do protect yourself in opposition to unfair claims.
Here are the steps you need to take if you’re unfortunate enough to be concerned in a road accident:
Stop your vehicle
At any time when you might be involved in a automotive accident, however minor, you should always stop. By no means depart the scene of an accident without stopping.
Make the Scene Safe
One of many first things you will must do is make sure that no one has been injured and the scene of the accident is as safe as possible. To avoid the danger of a further collision, place flares or warning lights across the stationary vehicles, and put your hazard warning lights on. If you are on a busy highway, stand well away from fast-moving oncoming traffic.
Call the emergency services
It is advisable to inform the police of an accident, even if there are not any severe injuries. If there are any accidents or there’s a fire, then the ambulance and fire services needs to be notified as well. It’s a good idea to inform the police, even if it is a minor accident, because you will want a police report to file with your insurance claim. If potential, the vehicles should not be moved before the police arrive.
Make a whole record of the accident
When the police arrive it is necessary that give them an accurate record of what has happened. If you are uncertain of any of the small print, be trustworthy about it, don’t try to speculate or make assumptions. If you’re asked if you are injured, it is healthier to say that you are unsure, somewhat than to say no, because some accidents from car accidents only manifest themselves later on. If there are any third-party witnesses to the accident, it is best to ask them to wait for the police to reach, in order that they may give a statement.
Take images
If there may be damage to your vehicle, then take photographs of that damage. You also needs to take images of any damage to other vehicles as well. In case you have any injuries which can be seen, take photographs of that too. Sadly, there are individuals who will claim that far more damage was achieved to their vehicle than really was. A photograph will enable you to dispute a spurious claim in opposition to your insurance. While making a record of the accident is vital, you shouldn’t, after all, impede the work of the emergency services and the police while you might be doing it.
Change particulars with the other party
If the police attend the scene of a automotive accident, they will take all the main points of those concerned within the accident and of any witnesses. If the police don’t attend, you must get hold of the names and addresses of all these involved, together with passenger and witnesses. You must also change insurance particulars with the drivers of the other vehicles involved. If the police are in attendance, the police should provide you with a police report number. With that you just will be able to acquire a replica of the police report into the accident. If the accident occurred on a state highway, you might be legally required to report the incident to the police.
Get a medical check up
Even if you do not think that you’ve been injured, it is advisable to get a medical check-up as quickly as doable after a automobile accident. Injuries caused by automotive accidents often do not turn into discoverable until several days later. Even low-speed impacts can cause spinal damage and, in the event you felt dazed by the accident, you’ll have suffered a mild concussion.
Keep all of the paperwork
Keep all the paperwork you could have relating of the accident in a file. This ought to embody all correspondence, your insurance declare number, details of the claim adjuster dealing with the claim and the names and telephone numbers of all these concerned within the case. You also needs to keep all of the receipts for any bills that you incur on account of the accident, together with automobile repairs, medical prices and the price of a rental car if one was needed.
Seek legal advice
It’s advisable to contact an lawyer straight away when you could have had a automobile accident. A good attorney will enable you to protect your rights by advising you on the right way to make certain that proof will not be destroyed and by giving you advice on the preparation of your assertion to your insurance company. They will also assist make certain that you just receive the proper compensation of a automotive accident and that you simply obtain the best medical treatment.
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