You always know that there’s a risk of getting involved in a car accident when you drive. But it still happens very quickly and without warning, and it can still leave you feeling shaken and unsure what to do next.
The steps that you take are important. Below are a few things you need to make sure that you do after the crash.
Check for injuries, both to yourself and others
Paramount is the goal of determining if anyone suffered serious injuries. Nothing matters more than this, and you absolutely need to focus on it first thing. If anyone has been badly injured, or even if you think the injuries are minor, you must contact the authorities to get proper medical assistance. Forget about everything else until you’ve taken this step.
Determine if it’s safe to move
You never want to leave the scene of an accident, which is illegal, but you may need to move your car off of the road. If this is impossible, it may also be wise to exit your car and move yourself out of danger. People are sometimes hurt and secondary accidents, and that’s what you’re trying to avoid.
Beginning taking pictures
Next, get out your phone and start taking pictures of the crash scene. Start with the damage to your car, but make sure you also back up and get wider shots of the entire scene. This can help to prove that the other driver was at fault. For instance, it may be obvious from the position of the cars that they ran a stop sign. Photographic evidence can help, and you may even want to do this before you move the vehicle to make sure that you have a record.
Talk to the other driver
If you are not so injured that you are rushed from the scene, it’s important to talk to the other driver. You need their insurance information and contact information, for one thing, and you may need to determine the next steps that will be taken. If the other driver alleges that you caused the crash, do not admit it or even argue with them. Just get the information that you need and commit to sorting out the details in court.
After all, if you’ve been hurt in an accident that someone else caused, you may need to seek financial compensation.
