6 Things You Need to Do After a Collision - AllCarIndex
Getting into a car accident can be a very stressful and traumatic experience. With all the adrenaline flowing and potential for serious injuries, you might not know what to do in the situation and in the following days. Not knowing what to do can have disastrous consequences, as you can potentially miss out on compensation and much more. Put yourself in a position where if you ever get into an accident, you are quickly able to get everything into motion. Here are several things that you will need to do after a collision
Contact Insurance
People will often try to avoid insurance and pay for things out of pocket. While this can help to keep your insurance payments low, it is also illegal. All accidents must be reported to your insurance no matter how severe they are. If you are determined to be at fault for the accident, your rates might go up. If you were given a DUI, there will be severe consequences both on the insurance end and the legal end. Fortunately, there are ways for you to secure cheap car insurance for DUI offenders allowing you to get the most for your money. There are certain companies that specialize in giving you a good deal, allowing you to still drive even after such a heavy conviction.
You might also want to get in touch with the other person's insurance if another party was involved in the accident. It can be annoying having to make all these phone calls and get the claim process started, but you are legally obligated to do so. Contacting insurance is one of the things that you must do after getting into an accident.
Gather Information At the Scene
When the accident actually happens, you should instantly start collecting information if you are able to. What sort of information should you get? First speak to the other driver and get their name, phone number, insurance policy, and driver's license. Get your camera out and start photographing the car and scene as well. This is important as not only will you get their license plate on camera, but you can also help to prevent any scams. A common tactic that scammers employ is taking their car and damaging it even further after the accident. They will then claim this damage was caused by you and the accident, leaving you responsible if you were at fault. Having photos of all of the damage will help to protect you from any types of insurance fraud.
If there are any witnesses at the accident, speak to them as well and get their personal information. If the other driver was at fault, you can use their testimony to bolster your case against them. Witnesses play a vital role when it comes to helping determine who is at fault in an accident. They can also help to provide an unbiased account of the accident as well, giving authorities and lawmakers a better understanding of what happened.
If you are unable to gather information or the other driver is not in a position to communicate, you do not have to worry. If there are any serious injuries, EMS should be called and they will be able to do all of this for you and give you a report later. It is always best to gather as much information as you can at the scene of the accident.
Get Medical Attention
Once you are able to leave the accident, you should get yourself to a doctor right away. Even if the accident was a minor one, you can easily suffer from whiplash and concussions. Getting medical attention might be expensive, but your insurance will be able to cover all of it. Not only that, if the other driver was determined to be at fault, they are then responsible for covering your medical bills. On top of that, doctors will be able to provide you with proper paperwork detailing your injury while also verifying that the injuries were caused by the accident. No matter what the outcome is, your health costs will be covered, and you will be able to see a doctor for free or for a much lower price.
Contact A Lawyer
Whether you were at fault or not, you will need to contact your lawyer if you have gotten into an accident. If the other driver plans on suing you, having a lawyer will give you the protection that you need in court. On the flip side, if they are at fault, you can proceed to sue them and seek compensation for what they have done. Your attorney will also prepare the case for you and collect all vital information, giving you valuable time to rest up and recover. Never neglect what a good attorney can do for you when it comes to a car accident.
Talk To Your Employer
There is a good chance that you are going to have to miss some time at work, especially if you are seriously injured. When you are able to, give your boss a call and inform them that you are going to have to take some time off. If you have seen a doctor, they will also be able to provide you with paperwork that you can give to them. Your insurance will cover your lost wages, so you do not need to worry about losing money when not working.
Rest and Recover
Finally, you need to take things easy and give yourself time to relax. Your body is great at recovering, but it can only do so if you give it the time to. Moving around and trying to carry on with your everyday life is a great way to aggravate your injuries further. Grab yourself an ice pack, put on your favorite movies, and relax for a few days.
These are all important things that you should be doing after a collision. Being in a car accident is never a fun situation, however, it is something that you have to be prepared for. Statistics show that 99% of people are involved in at least one car accident in their life. Don't you want to be prepared when it happens to you?