When you’re involved in a car accident, there are three important steps you should take to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you. First, make sure you and your passengers are okay and call the police. Second, move vehicles out of the way of oncoming traffic if possible. Third, call the police and/or an ambulance if anyone is injured. Taking these three steps after a car accident can help minimize the damage and keep everyone safe, but there are also other things you need to be aware of. In this article, we will discuss the importance of being present in the event, and cautious at the same time.Â
You are in an accident
Your first reaction after a car accident is to make sure you and your passengers are okay. Call the police if anyone is injured (even slightly). Stay calm, take a deep breath, and remember that it isn’t your fault. Depending on the density of traffic, the number of people involved, and whether or not someone’s life is in jeopardy, there is an order of steps you should take right after the accident. Once you call the police, call your lawyers, as well as a family member, to let them know about the situation. Having a legal representative by your side throughout the entire process will ensure that someone acquainted with the law can advocate for your best interest. Next, you need to move your car if it’s blocking traffic.
This can be difficult if there are thousands of angry commuters behind you, but it will help keep everyone safe in the long run so do your best. If someone isn’t injured, take pictures of the scene using a camera or smartphone to document evidence.
Leaving the scene of an accident is illegal
We know that sitting on the side of a road with a dead car battery isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time, but leaving the scene of an accident is illegal and can be dangerous. In some states, if you leave the scene, you’ll lose your insurance policy even if someone else caused it or there wasn’t anyone else around to see it. Also, many insurance companies require you to report accidents to keep your rates from skyrocketing because of the incident. Leasing a car doesn’t mean that you’re exempt from this either. If another driver caused the accident and left after you reported it, chances are he or she would tell the police that they weren’t involved when you eventually caught up with them.
Don’t let someone talk you into leaving
If someone tries to convince you that no one was hurt in the accident and everyone is fine, don’t let them talk you into leaving. It might seem like an easier way out than reporting it to the police, but chances are there’s more damage than meets the eye and if any other drivers saw it, they’ll be able to tell the police who caused the accident. If you put off filing a claim with your insurance company, there’s a chance that you won’t find out about potential injuries until it’s too late and the policy is voided from neglecting to report an accident.
In some instances, reporting an accident can get worse if another driver involved reports you for leaving the scene of one. In these types of situations, it’s best to call an attorney before filing any claims. This is especially true if there are injuries involved or if you suspect that another driver will try to pin the accident on you after you file your claim.
Prepare materials for filing claims
If you can, make copies of any documents provided by the police after they complete their investigation, as well as medical, and any other expenses that came out as a result of the accident. This includes the police report and a copy of your driver’s license. Also, take pictures on your smartphone of any car damage before attempting repairs to document what it looked like after the accident. If there were no witnesses available, ask friends and family members who were in the car with you for testimony or if they took pictures during or after the accident that might help prove your case.
A lawyer is an important part of preparing for court
You’ll also want to get in touch with a lawyer as soon as possible so he or she can advise you on how to prepare for court proceedings and whether or not you should attend mediation with other drivers involved in the accident. Attending mediation is a way to prevent the case from going to court, but this might not be an option if you’ve already reached out to an attorney who believes that litigation is your best course of action.
The three steps you should take after a car accident will help protect your best interests and make sure that the right person is held accountable for their actions. Whether you’re dealing with property damage or injury, it’s important to have an attorney by your side throughout the process so they can advocate for what is in your best interest.
If someone tries to convince you not to report an accident because no one was hurt, don’t let them talk you into leaving. This could lead to serious consequences down the road if another driver reported that you left before filing a claim or if there were injuries involved. You’ll want to prepare materials beforehand when filling out insurance claims, including a copy of any documents provided by police officers who investigated the incident, pictures of damaged cars taken, etc.
