1. Stay
Stay calm and at the scene. If you injured someone else and leave, you could face criminal penalties for being a hit and run driver.
2. Safety
It is important to avoid any further injuries or wrecks. Only if the accident is very minor should you move your cars off the road. If the vehicles are going to need to be towed, turn on your hazard lights and walk to the side of the road. If you have flares or a warning triangle, this is the time to use them. Then stand on the side of the road outside of traffic.
3. Assess injuries
Ask if your passengers are okay and then check on the passengers of the other vehicle. If someone has suffered a back or neck injury or is unconscious, do not move them.
- If you have been injured in a car accident, have an injury attorney review your claim free of charge. If you have a valid claim, many personal injury attorneys will wait until you have settled your case to collect their fees.
4. Call the Police
This is never a step to avoid. In the weeks and months to come, you will be glad the police were called. Let the police dispatcher decide if the accident is minor enough to avoid a police report. A police report is vital to the insurance company assessing liability in the situation. Having the police on scene will also keep everyone calm.
5. Exchange information
You will need to exchange information at the scene with the other driver including:
- Driver and passenger names
- License plate numbers and driver license numbers
- Insurance company and policy number
- Makes and models of all vehicles involved
- Contact info (including emails) for any eyewitnesses
- Location of the accident
- The name and badge number of any responding police officers
Other identifying information, such as a social security number, is not necessary to exchange. Due to identity theft, exchanging this information should be avoided.
6. Take pictures
The camera on your phone will never be so handy. You can never have enough pictures of the scene and the individuals involved. Take enough pictures of the scene to document where the cars were on the road at the time of the collision and the weather and light conditions present. Take pictures of any skid marks or the lack thereof. Take pictures of the front, side and rear of all vehicles involved in the collision.
7. Don’t admit fault or assign blame
The only people you should talk to about the accident are your insurance company, police and personal injury attorney. Although it is against our Southern charms, avoid saying you’re sorry to the other side. It could be used against you to imply fault. Don’t talk to the other insurance company without the knowledge of your personal injury lawyer or insurance company. If you are contacted by the other insurance company politely tell them to talk to your accident attorney or insurer to arrange an interview.
8. Call your own insurance company.
No matter who caused the accident, it is important to report the car accident to your own insurer. Your policy requires you to contact your own insurance company about the accident if it is your fault. You will need your notes and photos taken above in your discussion with your own insurer.
9. Go to the doctor
If you are hurt, you should go to the doctor. Many injuries from minor impact collisions don’t surface for at least a few days. It is important to document all of your injuries and go to the doctor. If you have a personal injury lawyer, they may be able to write a letter of protection to a chiropractor or physician if you cannot afford medical treatment. You will need to keep all of your medical records and bills related to the accident.
10. Call a personal injury attorney
It is important that a personal injury lawyer get involved as soon as possible to assess the damage, if any, to yourself or others involved in the car wreck. Be wary of any early settlement offers from the other insurance company, as it may be made before your medical treatment or bills have arrived. If the other insurance company sends you a check for your injuries, do not cash it before you are compensated for all of your injuries. Most personal injury attorneys work on contingency, which means that a fee is only recovered if you are awarded damages.
