Health Literacy

What to Do When You Get in a Car Accident

Car Crash

It’s a shocking moment when you collide with another car. Once the initial surprise and fear wear off, you can often find yourself scrambling for what to do next. Often drivers are so shaken by the incident that they are lost for words and actions.

Therefore, having a list of what to do and what not to do when you find yourself in a car accident is helpful. When you have a checklist on hand to guide you through an emotional moment, it makes the process much easier to navigate.

Make sure that you do the following when you get into an accident.

Take Photos

It’s essential to have a camera nearby which will likely be your smartphone. Take photos immediately of your car and the other vehicle so that you have a record of the damage that took place during the car accident.

Unfortunately, in many cases, the opposing driver isn’t honest and tries to claim damages that weren’t a result of the collision for insurance purposes. Photos are an extra safety net to make sure that you don’t get into any additional problems and so you can prove your case during any insurance disputes.

Exchange Information With The Other Driver

Make sure that you get the other drivers information immediately. Since you need to have the other driver’s information to continue the case to determine who was at fault for the collision, it’s imperative that you don’t forget this step.

Failing to get their license and plate numbers could lead to a potential hit and run which leaves you responsible for paying for the damage depending on your insurance policy.

Call The Police

It’s crucial to call the police while you’re still on the scene. The police will write a report and take the statements of any witnesses who were present.

Although this doesn’t guarantee the claim will go in your favor, it helps to have a report on hand when you go to court. The police will usually draw a diagram of the incident so that there is a clear picture of exactly what happened.

Call Your Insurance Company

Call your insurance company to file a claim about the collision. Once they have an incident claim number, they can start to investigate and move forward with the other driver’s insurance company. It’s important to give them all the information possible so that they can do their jobs as best as possible.

See a Doctor

It’s essential to see a doctor as soon as possible following a car accident. Many drivers don’t think they’ve suffered any physical damage, however, often whiplash takes several days for you to notice and then becomes extremely painful.

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Anna Johansson is a freelance writer, researcher, and business consultant from Olympia, WA. A columnist for Entrepreneur.com, Business.com and more. Anna specializes in entrepreneurship, technology, and social media trends. You can follow her on LinkedIn.

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