Auto accidents are a frightening experience to endure. Not only are you dealing with potential injuries and damage to your vehicle, but you might have to endure weeks of working with your insurance to get your vehicle fixed. You might think that you are a good driver, so you don’t need to worry too much about auto accidents. However, even if you are the best driver in the world, you cannot account for the actions of the drivers around you! Whether you are the victim of an auto accident or the cause of the auto accident, there are things you need to do immediately after a collision.
First, get you and your car out of the way if you can. Sometimes, it’s not the initial auto accident that is damaging, but the one that comes right after from a bystander not realizing you have stopped and can’t move. If you can move over to the side of the road, do so.
Second, turn off your vehicle and check on others in the car. If you or another passenger is injured, call for an ambulance. If just the cars are injured, call for a police officer to come and take an official report for insurance purposes.
Third, get out and circle the vehicle, taking pictures on your phone (if possible) where the damaged areas are. Now is the time to check on the other driver and exchange insurance information.
Finally, get ready to file your claim! While some auto accidents are unavoidable, many aren’t. Drive safe out there by putting your phone away, never driving under the influence, and being well-rested. For more auto accident information, contact Koontz & Smith, Attorneys at Law.