Whether you drive a car or a truck, you should know what to do in case of an accident. One of the first things you should keep in mind is that you’ll need a lawyer or some sort of legal help. If you’re an avid driver, you should already have someone in mind because you never know when disaster can strike. All you need to do to be prepared is to search for simple terms like “car wreck legal help” and sift through the results. It’s best to be prepared for emergencies so make sure you have legal connections just in case.
Here’s what you should do if you get into a car accident.
#1: Stop!
That’s right. Don’t ever drive away from the site of an accident, no matter how minor or major it is. You should stay where you are and wait for the police to show up so the matter can be handled by experts.
#2: Stay Safe
If you’re in the middle of a busy road, try to put your hazards on to warn other cars. If you can’t do that, try to wave and indicate that you have an emergency situation. You should try to keep the accident area cordoned off until the authorities can arrive in case they need to collect evidence and pictures.
#3: Call the Police
This one seems pretty simple but might escape your mind in confusion. Just call the police as soon as you can. If you’re on a busy road, there’s a good chance that a bystander will call. However, you should play your part and make the call too. If you need an ambulance or other assistive services, you should call them up as well. Don’t take too long!
#4: Take Pictures
If you have a camera or your phone on you, take pictures of the scene. These will be incredibly useful to the police when they have to make a report of what happened. Plus, if you need to file for any sort of liability or injury claim, you will find these handy. Make sure you show a complete and accurate record of what the accident site looks like.
#5: Get Information
Normally, police will gather at the scene and help you and the other driver exchange relevant information. If they have not yet arrived, don’t hesitate to start this process yourself. Exchange your info with the other driver. Make sure to exchange names, contact and insurance information as all these can come in handy. Don’t bicker or quarrel with the other driver. Rather, wait for the police to arrive.
#6: Report the Accident
You should call up your insurance people right away and make a report of the accident. It’s imperative that they receive this information as early as possible in order for you to claim it later on.
#7: Consult Your Attorney
This is perhaps the most important step, after getting medical help of course! You should immediately consult with your attorney and explain what happened. You can send across all the evidence that you have gathered on the scene as this will help your attorney to make a compelling case. Make sure you do this promptly!
