In 2022, nearly 32,000 individuals died in car accidents. These incidents are scary and confusing, and you may not know what to do after the incident.
Therefore, these are some steps you should take if you get into a car accident.
Take a minute
After the accident, you need a little time to understand what happened. It may take a few minutes to calm down, get your breathing under control and bring your mind back into the present. You also need to really check your body for any injuries. If you have passengers, ask about their potential injuries. Also, turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers of the accident. If you have road flares, you can light them as well.
Contact the police
If you find yourself in an emergency situation where someone has received an injury, dial 911. Ask for the police as well as an ambulance. You can also contact the police department if the incident was minor, but dispatch may not send police to the scene in these cases.
Move and gather evidence
Photograph the scene of the accident if you can. You can try to move your vehicle out of traffic provided it still runs. Then, gather the other driver’s insurance and license information. Ask for contact information from any witnesses on the scene. Later, you will also collect the police report as well as the names and badge numbers of any officers on the scene.
Get medical treatment
It can take hours or days for injuries to show up, so get checked out even if you do not believe you received an injury. Then, collect your medical records.
To get the best results, avoid admitting fault and prepare for incidents ahead of time.
