What to do after a Car Accident?
Accidents can strike any time, anywhere, and to anyone—and driving on the road increases the odds that you meet one. These accidents can be very minor, while some are so fatal, thousands of lives are taken every year by these horrible car crashes. Regardless of how careful you are while driving, there are many other extraneous factors that are not of your control that you should consider and think about.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are about 10 million car collisions every year. Fortunately, most are non-fatal. However, no one can ever tell. Sometimes, a fender bender may lead to more serious situations if handles incorrectly.
While there are many ways to avoid a car accident, but if it is unfortunate that you ever meet one, the few moments after it may be critical for your safety and your life. When you have a car accident there are a few keys things you need to do to make sure you are protected. It is important that you take the right steps and safety measures that will ensure you and your passengers are out of trouble.
Here is a step by step guide on what to do after a car accident:
Life before property
Before determining the condition or the extent of the accident, the most important thing you should do is to check and see if anyone needs urgent medical care. If you can, do not move the vehicles unless they are causing a major problem with traffic. It would be best to wait for the first responders, i.e. the police or the emergency response team before moving anything.
Get the Facts of Your Car Accident
Once proper medical attention has been given to you and your company, it is time to face the legalities of the accident. It is important that you call the police and report the incident. Even in a minor accident, it is important to make sure there is a legal accident report. While it is understandable that most people would experience trauma and forget some details regarding the accident, it is your responsibility to gather as much information as you can.
It is important to get names, addresses, and phone numbers of everyone involved in the accident. A description of the car and license plate number can also be helpful, but make sure you also get their insurance company and the vehicle identification number of their car. Don’t just assume the license plate number will do because most insurance companies only record the type of car and the vehicle identification number, not the license plate number.
Contact Your Insurance Company
After contacting your family, the police, and the ambulance team, you should contact your insurance company right after Let your agent or insurance company‘s emergency representative that you got into one.
Sometimes a police officer can give your insurance company more accurate information than you can at the scene of the accident.
Filing an Accident Insurance Claim
You should speak with Your insurance agent or the person who you speak to at your insurance company’s claims phone number. The details are usually found on your vehicle proof of insurance card. They will be the ones who will walk you through how to file your claim after an accident.
Some insurance companies also have mobile apps that can be used to file insurance claims after an accident. You can also start the claims process there or visit your insurance company website to see if you can fill in the information or follow up on your claim online.
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