The moments after a serious car accident are likely some of the most stressful you may ever have to endure. Therefore it is important to know what to do if such an event were to occur in order to promote clear thinking and rational decision making. Having a plan to follow after the fact could keep you from getting in more trouble and could even save lives. Below I’ve attempted to outline the major steps to take immediately after a car accident:
Take Care of Injuries
If you find that you are uninjured, your first priority is making sure that your passengers, the other drivers, and their passengers are also uninjured. If anyone happens to be injured, you should consider it up to you to deal with it. If need be, call an ambulance for medical assistance. If no one is injured then turn your attention momentarily back to yourself to double check that you suffered no traumas. If you deem that you are okay, call the emergency services and inform them of the situation.
Gather Information About the Crash
CPR Law recommends that you take pictures of the accident before moving the cars to the side of the road if they are functioning enough to do so. These pictures can be used by investigative officials when sorting out the cause of the crash and can be used in court and by your insurance agency if need be. Also, be sure to write down anything you can remember, from weather, to time of day, driving conditions, etc.
Exchange Information
Talk to the other driver(s) and gather driver’s license, vehicle, license plate, and other information.
Don’t Accept or Place Blame
It is up to your insurance agency to decide who is to blame for the accident.
Assess Your Car
If you feel that your car is unsafe to drive after the accident, call a tow truck and have it inspected by a professional.
Of course no one want to ever be in a car accident, but, despite that, it will happen to some of us. We can never know who before the fact so it is important that we are all prepared for the inevitable outcomes some of us will be forced to face. Hopefully with the help of these tips you will be prepared to take control of the situation if you find yourself in the unfortunate circumstance of being in it.