Car crashes are very common in the United Statesthat is, they claim tens of thousands of lives each year.
Whats the leading cause? Distracted driving. Basically, its when you engage in other activities (e.g. eating, drinking, adjusting vehicle settles) that diverts your attention from the road.
Other common causes include speeding, reckless driving, and driving under the influence. Bad weather such as rain or snow can also increase the chance of accidents.
Want to be prepared in case something happens? If so, you’re on the right page. Well be going over what to do following a car accident in this post.
Keep reading to learn more!
What to Do Following a Car Accident: 4 Things to Consider
There are certain steps that you want to take after a car accident. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Call For Help
First things first, you want to stay calm. If possible, try to move your car to a safe area before calling for help.
Wait for help to arrive on the scene and let them know what happened. Heres a tipdont admit fault or blame the other party for the crash. Why? Your words can easily be used against you later.
For those who are interested in hiring a lawyer, you might want to check out this guide.
2. Gather Information and Write It Down
There are a few key pieces of information that you want to gather after a car accident. For one thing, you want to write down the vehicles involved (model, make, and plate numbers).
Not only that, but you want to ask for the drivers name, contact information, drivers license number, and insurance details.
If you can, try to gather the names and contact information of witnesses as well.
3. Take Photos As Evidence
You should always take photos of the crash scene. If anything, its the best way to preserve evidence.
To be more specific, you want to get pictures of your car, the damage its sustained as well as the other vehicles involved in the accident. In addition to that, it’s also a good idea to get photos of the crash scene.
Theyll come in handy when youre dealing with your insurance company later.
4. Call Your Insurance Company
Contact your insurance company once everything is gathered. However, ensure to contact a local car attorney before. Most insurance companies are masters at negotiation. Local attorneys like a NY auto accident attorney can guide you on the right way of dealing with insurance companies.
While it may take some time, a claims adjuster will eventually tell you the amount that youre responsible for. From there, you can take your vehicle to a car shop for repairs.
Knowing What to Do After a Car Accident
Hopefully, that answers the question of, “what to do following a car accident”. If anything, you never want to just leave the scene!
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