What steps should you take immediately after a car accident?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are more than 6 million car accidents in the United States each year. It’s vital to prepare yourself a little in advance because you might not be able to think straight after an accident, no matter how terrible it was.
There are some actions you might wish to do after an automobile collision to assist ensure everyone’s safety, to comply with the law, and to begin the insurance claim procedure. So, if you end up in a car accident in Vegas and need a lawyer, first check out the steps to take.
Check whether or not anyone is injured
Never ever leave the site of an accident, no matter how small. According to Rob Luna, group manager of car claims at the American Automobile Association in Costa Mesa, California, safety should always come first.
Check on everyone’s well-being and seek medical attention if necessary.
Get your car and yourself out of danger
In the event that you are unharmed and the collision was minor, drive slowly to the side of the road to prevent hindering traffic. Keep your warning lights on, and place flares or reflective emergency triangles to alert other vehicles to slow down. If the crash was more severe or someone was hurt, keep the cars where they are.
Even if you don’t think you were wounded, exercise caution when getting out of your car, especially if the crash took place on a busy road or freeway.
Call the police
Even though it’s crucial to file an accident report, certain places might not send officers to a minor mishap, according to Luna.
According to him, “Some police departments are switching to online reporting instead of allocating resources to the accident scene.”
Note the police officer’s badge number, name, and contact details if they show up. Make sure to ask the police for a copy of the accident report.
Collect vital details
Take images of documents using your phone’s camera, or write down everyone’s name, address, phone number, and driver’s license number using a pen and paper. Determine the person’s link to the owner of the vehicle if the name on the driver and the insurance or registration documents don’t match.
Call your insurance company
While it could seem alluring to agree to a cash transaction rather than file an insurance claim, failing to notify your insurance provider after a collision may subject you to liability for any accident-related damages.
