What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
What Should I Do After a Car Accident – Introduction
Car accidents can be traumatizing incidents but they are also very common for motor vehicle operators to experience. It is important to know what to do in the event of a car accident. Nothing can make going through a car accident experience easy or convenient. By following a few key steps however, you can help to minimize the impact that any potential car accident will have on your life and the lives of others. Of course safe driving is always the best bet as well. Follow all of your state and local guidelines and regulations. Have your car checked out regularly especially if it is malfunctioning. This will help you to prevent an accident but it is still important to know what to do if or when one happens to you. Here is a guide for what to do in the event of a motor vehicle accident.
Remain Calm
In the event of a motor vehicle accident, the first and most important step is to stay calm. Many people are not fortunate enough to live through their car accident experiences. Count yourself lucky to be alive and proceed through the next steps appropriately. It is important not to have an overly emotional reaction even though it may be tempting to do so. By remaining calm, you can handle the difficult situation at hand as effectively as possible.
Evaluate Any Injuries That You or Your Passengers May Have
The next step after a car accident occurs is to evaluate any injuries that you or your passengers may have. Your health and livelihood are extremely important. Sometimes in the case of car accidents, air bags may deploy and accident related injuries may occur. It is important to respond to the situation appropriately depending on how serious your injuries or the injuries of your passengers are.
Evaluate Any Immediate Threats Posed By Your Vehicle
If your vehicle is inoperable because of the car accident, you will want to get to a safe location away from any threats posed by your vehicle. It is important to make sure that you are not in a situation where you could get hit by a car that is not paying attention, especially if you are already injured. Even if you have important items in your vehicle, it may be dangerous to re-enter it depending on how serious the situation is. That is why it is important to calmly evaluate any immediate threats before moving forward.
Pull Over as Much as is Safe and Possible
If your vehicle is damaged but still at least the minimum amount operable, you will want to move it away from traffic as quickly and efficiently as possible. This is important for your safety but also for the safety and convenience of others. You and the other driver will both want to pull away from traffic as much as safely possible in order to move forward and take the next necessary steps. In a hit and run situation, you will need to proceed slightly differently, so it is important to keep that in mind as well.
Evaluate Any Injuries or Car Damages That the Other Party May Have
Hopefully, you are not in a hit and run car accident or a life threatening car accident. If this is the case, then you can calmly walk over to the other vehicle to evaluate their situation. It is important not to yell at the other driver or become aggressive with the other driver, even if the accident may appear to be their fault. If the other driver needs immediate assistance that you are able to provide, you will want to address this before moving forward with any other necessary steps. If not, move on to the next step and start making your immediately needed phone calls.
Make Immediate Phone Calls That Are Necessary
There are a few phone calls that you will want to make immediately after getting into a car accident, serious or not serious. If you need to call 911, now is the time to do so. At this time you may need to call an emergency contact like a family member or trusted friend for assistance as well. At this time you may also want to make an initial phone call to a lawyer that specializes in the handling of car crash situations. If you need an Anaheim car accident lawyer to help you with your auto accident, you may want to call Pacific Attorney Group.
Determine Exactly What Happened to Cause the Accident and Write Down All of the Details
It is important to make sure that you know the details of the accident, as you saw it occur. You will need to communicate details about the auto accident to the police, the other party, your insurance company, and your car accident lawyer Anaheim CA or in any other location. You want to have your details as straight and consistent as possible in order to get the best results possible from your car insurance company and Anaheim car accident lawyer. A car crash can be a very stressful situation so you want to make sure that you minimize confusion and write down all of the necessary details clearly and carefully.
Exchange Information
Whether the accident seems to be your fault, the other party’s fault, or neither party’s fault, it is still important to exchange information. In the case of a hit and run accident or otherwise uncooperative situation, it is important to still write down the color, make, model, and license plate number of the other vehicle. If you and the other driver both have insurance, be sure to exchange insurance information. Remain calm when exchanging this information. Make sure that you have written down your information clearly and legibly and that the other party has done so as well. This will help to limit confusion.
Continue Making Necessary Phone Calls
If you search “car accident lawyer anaheim CA,” many different results will pop up. If you need a lawyer, it is important to find a good law firm that knows how to handle a car wreck. It is a good idea to have a preferred law firm in mind before any potential accidents have the opportunity to occur. This way you can confidently contact your preferred law firm after the accident. Doing research about different law firms right after an accident can be stressful. It is better to do this research preemptively.
Get Medical Attention As Needed
If you suffered from any minor or major injuries during the accident, it is important to report those immediately and have them assessed and treated appropriately as well. Minor injuries like bruises, cuts, scrapes, and soreness should still be reported. If you do not go to a doctor for immediate assistance after an accident, it will be harder for you to receive compensation to cover your medical expenses in many cases. Injuries that seem minor at first may also be more serious than they initially appear to be. Do not be afraid of expensive medical bills after a car accident that is not your fault. This is where your law firm is here to help.
Get Your Vehicle Repaired or Determine if Your Vehicle Damage is Irreparable
If your vehicle is totaled or needs to be repaired, you will want to secure a rental vehicle. You will also want to have the damage professionally assessed. Get multiple quotes if necessary, and then follow through with the repair process. Make sure that your vehicle is fully safe for operation before returning it to the road. Your insurance company and law firm can help to re-compensate you for car rentals and repairs.
Follow Through with Any Necessary Law Suits
It may be necessary to file a law suit against the other driver after you get into a car wreck. Contact a lawyer as soon as possible with the initial details of the accident. Then, you can follow up later to have a more detailed discussion about your case or potential case. Even if you are not 100% sure that you need a lawyer or want to file a law suit, it is a good idea to get a consultation. It is better to be safe than sorry. You do not want to feel regretful about letting too much time pass before calling a lawyer.
Return to the Road Safely and With a Calm Mindset
Accidents can be very traumatizing for drivers and passengers alike. If you are suffering from any form of post traumatic stress, it is important to seek therapy and find coping mechanisms before returning to the road. Once you have followed all of these steps and you feel safe and confident, you can return to the road with ease knowing that you did everything right despite an unfortunate situation.