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In the wake of an auto accident, you’re likely to experience a variety of emotions. From anger to fear to sadness, even minor car accidents can elicit a wide range of feelings. However, regardless of how emotional you’re feeling in the aftermath of an accident, there are a number of tasks you’ll need to attend to. Taking the following steps after being involved in an auto accident can make receiving the restitution you’re owed considerably less stressful.
Steps to Take After an Auto Accident
1. Document Personal Injuries and Vehicle Damage
First and foremost, you’ll need to take stock of any personal injuries of you or your passengers may have incurred. If anyone in the vehicle has incurred injuries that warrant immediate medical attention, call an ambulance immediately. or if they have don’t have any injury at least health screening check is necessary. Next, provided you’re safely able to do so, exit the vehicle and survey the damage.
Getting pictures of any injuries or vehicle damage that occurred as a result of the accident will ultimately make it easier for you to seek restitution and present your case to both authorities and your insurance company. Furthermore, as soon as you’re in a position to do so, type out your version of events. The sooner you document what happened, the fresher it will be in your mind.
2. Remain at the Scene Until Authorities Arrive
In the wake of an auto accident, you may be so shaken up that you’re tempted to drive away. Additionally, if an accident doesn’t appear to have been particularly serious, you may be tempted to write it off as something you can deal with later and leave the scene. Needless to say, this type of attitude won’t serve you well in the aftermath of a car accident.
For one thing, fleeing the scene is liable to be interpreted as an acknowledgment of guilt on your part. After all, if another party’s negligent driving is what caused the accident, why would you feel the need to leave? Even if you played no role in causing the accident, taking off before authorities arrive is likely to create the impression that you did, which may result in scrutiny from insurance companies and a warrant being issued for your arrest.
3. Exchange Contact and Insurance Information
To ensure that you’re able to get a hold of the responsible party and/or their insurance company, take care to exchange contact and insurance info before leaving the scene. In the absence of such information, you’re liable to have a difficult time collecting any restitution you’re owed as a result of the accident.
If the responsible party is less than forthcoming with this information, don’t get angry or attempt to engage them in an argument. Instead, simply wait for the authorities to arrive. Once they’re on the scene, request that they obtain the aforementioned information in your place. In all likelihood, the responsible party will be more cooperative with the police.
4. Don’t Allow Yourself to Be Goaded into an Argument
As stated above, it doesn’t pay to argue with the responsible party – or to antagonize them in any way. If the person who caused the accident appears to be angry, belligerent, under the influence or any combination thereof, you’d do well to avoid engaging with them. The dash cam comes handy at this kind of situation, So you don’t have explain everything to authorities. If you don’t feel safe interacting with this individual or requesting their insurance info, just wait for authorities to arrive on the scene. No matter how angry or shaken up you are about their negligent driving, it’s in everyone’s best interest that you keep your emotions in check. After all, the last thing you want is the responsible party claiming that you made them feel unsafe.
5. Work with a Dependable Attorney
If you need help navigating the complexities of this process, don’t hesitate to reach out to a highly-rated car accident lawyer. The right attorney will help ensure that you’re not jerked around by the responsible party or the insurance companies and that you’re able to get the restitution you’re owed in a timely, low-stress manner.
No question being involved in a car accident can be a deeply stressful and frightening experience. Even if you’re able to walk away from an accident without any serious injuries, dealing with the aftermath of the incident is liable to cause you a tremendous amount of frustration. Fortunately, there are numerous steps you can take towards making the fallout less daunting. Should you ever find yourself involved in an accident that isn’t your fault, the advice outlined above is likely to come in handy.