If you’ve ever been in an accident, you know how overwhelming it can be. There are so many things to take care of and decisions to make, it’s enough to make you feel like your head might explode.
But don’t worry! We’ve created a handy list of what to do when you get in a car or motorcycle accident that should help make the process a little less overwhelming. I know the first thing on your mind might be to call your accident lawyer, especially if the accident wasn’t your fault, but you might want to call 911 first.
The first step should be reporting the accident, then maybe later talk about the injuries with doctors, taking photos for insurance purposes, and contacting family members.
Let’s get started
What to do when you get in an accident
1. Never Drive Away:
It’s never a good idea to leave the scene of an accident. Maybe get away from immediate danger like if there’s a fire, but please do not flee the scene.
Ideally, you should wait around until the police come so they can take photos and get any necessary information from you.
2. Protect the Scene
Even if the other party seems like they’re ok, do not let anyone drive away. This isn’t a very easy task, but if you can, stop passers-by from removing things from the scene of the accident.
3. Call the Police
This may not seem like a big deal, but it’s important to call the police as soon as possible. Protect yourself and those involved by reporting the accident immediately. You don’t want to face charges later on.
4. Take Photos of the Accident
This might sound obvious, but do take photos of the accident itself. Yes, it seems obvious, but if you don’t have any photos of the crash or injury, you might be in a tough spot, later on, should you need medical care or insurance to cover your expenses.
The sooner you take photos of everything, the better. Not only will it be useful for insurance purposes, but it’s a good way to keep a record of what happened if future accidents take place. It might be a good idea to ask your attorney if it was ok for you to take photos as well.
5. Talk to the police
When the police arrive at the scene, they’ll ask you a lot of questions about what happened and who was involved. It’s important, to tell the truth. If you’re caught lying, it could hurt you later on.
If you don’t feel like you’re in a position to talk to the police, at least agree to give a statement later. But please, don’t leave without giving the police any information that you have.
6. Get Medical Treatment
If you’ve been injured, it’s important to make sure that you get medical treatment for your injuries as soon as possible. If you’re hurt badly, this will be more of a priority than anything else on the list here. Even if it doesn’t seem serious to you, there could be internal injuries that need to be treated right away.
If you get any medical treatment, make sure that you get a bill that includes dates and times.
7. Call Family/Friends
It’s important to let your loved ones know that you’re ok if in case there are injuries. You’ll want someone close by to support you and help out with things like filing insurance claims and dealing with doctors. If you have a friend or family member who’s a lawyer, it might be a good idea to contact them to help you with any legal issues.
8. Get in Touch with Your Insurance Company
If your car was damaged in the accident, you need to file an insurance claim right away and negotiate a cash settlement with the insurance company. Before you can do that, though, you’ll have to contact your insurance company.
while contacting them though, make sure you get in touch with the other party’s insurance company as well.
This will give them notice of the accident and make it easier for them to pay for damages. You should be able to contact their agent or contact information from the accident report if their name wasn’t on the report itself. Meanwhile, you can get an auto insurance without registration.
9. Include Everyone in Insurance Claims:
If you were not the only one involved in the accident, it’s important to include everyone who was involved. If the other person wasn’t insured or if they were driving with a suspended or revoked license, they might not be thinking about contacting an attorney. That’s their loss! You should always file an insurance claim right after getting in an accident no matter who is at fault.
10. Get a Lawyer
Even if it doesn’t seem like the best idea, it’s a good idea to hire a lawyer to review your case and make sure that everything is right. The more time passes, the harder it will be to get back everything that you’re entitled to. In some cases, there might not have been much damage done after all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGpibmMiflQ
What happens if you don’t tell your insurer about an accident?
It’s always a good idea to contact your insurance agent or the other party’s insurance company. It’s also important to take photos of the accident scene so that they can be used in evidence.
But here’s some interesting news for you: If you don’t tell your insurer about an accident, they might not cover it even if it was your fault! In fact, they might not cover future accidents or give you the same insurance rate.
If you’re involved in an accident, it’s important to report it to your insurance company right away so that they can help you out with whatever expenses need to be taken care of.
In some states, you are required to notify them of any accidents that might cause injury or death.
Conclusion
No matter who is at fault, you should get in touch with your insurance company and law enforcement. Accidents aren’t something to be ashamed of, but they are something that should be handled carefully.
Always make sure to take photos of the accident site and all involved vehicles. Take photos of any injuries that you’re dealing with and keep a record of everything.
