Getting involved in a car accident may be a horrifying experience for anyone. They occur without warning, and sometimes, in spite of you following all of the necessary precautions, things would still get out of hand. In such case, one must not forget the golden rule when it comes to emergencies: Do not panic. Things went wrong during your travel, and you definitely wouldn’t want everything to get worst just because you lost your composure amidst a tough obstacle. To further assist you, we had enumerated a few step-by-step guides of what to do when you get into a car accident:
Step 1: Check yourself for injuries.
Don’t just try to get out of the car immediately, analyze your situation. Do you feel any pain after the impact? Can you move? These things should be put into consideration due to the fact that any sudden movement may aggravate an injury further. Check yourself thoroughly and only get out of the car or wreckage once the coast is clear. If you’re not travelling alone, check on your passengers. Are there any signs of wounds or bruises? Would they be able to get out of the car after? It would be great to have one of you be able to get out of the wreckage in order to help the other person get out. On the other hand, if both of you are stuck, using your cellphones would be a great option to ask for help.
Step 2: Get to safety.
If you’re able to, move to the side of the road or a sidewalk. If your car isn’t much of a wreck and is still safe to drive, pull it to the side of the road, otherwise, leave it where it is and get yourself and your passenger/s to safety.
Step 3: Call the authorities.
Regardless if it is a minor or major accident, you would still need to contact the police to file a report on the situation. This would help smoothen out the negotiation when it comes to repairs and compensation for the injuries between those who were involved in the accident.
Step 4: Exchange information with the other party.
When everything’s all set and both involved parties are safely out of their vehicles, you may need to exchange information and contact details in order to coordinate about the damage. Such important information includes:
- Full name and contact information
- Insurance company and policy number
- Driver’s license and license plate number
- Type, color and model of vehicle
- Location of accident
It is important that you avoid discussing fault when going over the facts with the other driver, to ensure that there would be no conflict amidst the negotiation.
Step 5: Notify your insurer and start the claims process.
After exchanging details, you may want to contact your insurance agent next, that way, they can tell you exactly what they will need to in order to process your claim and what to expect during the claims process. The process time would depend on your coordination and willingness to provide the details of the accident, so be vigilant, be patient, and state only the facts.
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