Q. What do I do in a car accident?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
If you are in a car accident, it’s important to stay calm and follow these steps:
Safety First: Check for injuries and make sure everyone is out of harm’s way. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately.
Exchange Information: Collect the name, contact information, insurance information (including policy numbers) from the other driver(s) involved in the accident as well as any witnesses who may have seen what happened.
Document Everything: Take pictures of the scene with your phone or camera, including any damage to vehicles or property as well as skid marks on pavement/roadways that may be relevant to understanding how the crash occurred and who might be at fault. Pay attention to which lane each vehicle was occupying during impact too since this can help demonstrate negligence or contributing factors leading up to a collision such as speeders or those driving negligently when changing lanes on highways/interstates etc.. Additionally create an accident report form including all details about both drivers, passengers involved along with all related identifying info like license plate numbers, driver licenses numbers and insurance information so you have everything accessible in one place for future reference if needed throughout this process &/or by insurance companies for claims purposes down the road.
Notify The Authorities: Call your local police department right away so they can come assess damages/injuries & write up a police report detailing what took place during the crash - having an official law enforcement statement can prove invaluable ”if” there are disagreements between parties later regarding underlying facts of what happened due to varying witness recollections that arise after leaving scene etc.. Report details should also include weather conditions leading up into crash if applicable enough mention it within their report - because inclement weather could play key role in causing an accident under certain circumstances - but don't rely on them alone for documentation though since its best practice supplementing their own efforts and accounts with your own accurate notes taken at time of incident & utilizing photos taken throughout this process too!
5 . Contact Your Insurance Company : Contact your auto insurer soon after being involved in an automobile claiming detailing exactly what has transpired just occurred giving them enough info concerning incident so they might consider processing any potential claims from insurance standpoint which could help cover damages sustained by either yourself (if upheld responsible) or another individual's vehicle(if not). Be sure reference full scope pertaining specifics surrounding collision whenever talking insuring carrier o be able detail accurately differentiate between different coverage options available relying company when filing claim moving forward if need be down line etc…
6 . Seek Professional Legal Assistance : Consider consulting lawyer comprehensive legal advice further understand rights protection afforded under state laws terms governing obligations must meet connection motor accidents thus since some states may allow seek compensation medical expenses property damage incurred result incident even though lawsuit not filed initial time frame able speak attorney thorough understanding situation developing strategies prepare accordingly case arbitration dispute resolution settlements come about relation aforementioned areas litigation realm arise instead without proper counsel beforehand potentially put oneself difficult spot receive fair deal party running contrary interests basically leaving vulnerable significant financial loss more importantly value safety health investing sound reliable experienced reputable legal representation here go long way should considered course action aiming pursue monetary relief given heightened risks posed courtroom proceedings auto conflicts always take consult couple good attorneys before making commitments decisions solely own accord question bottom line protect best interests otherwise left liable pay amount exceeding limit available policy number worse yet fend off charges gross negligence actual criminal behavior actions transgression vehicular disputes both hallmarks civil criminal cases tied subject matter dependent jurisdiction set forth enacted particular jurisdiction goes overview basic steps followed event possibly getting trapped motorcar accident Stay safe luck!