What To Do After An Auto Accident

Most drivers feel a lot of adrenaline after they are involved in an auto accident. These types of situations can make it difficult to remember things and stay focused. You should learn about proper accident procedures and laws to help you feel prepared. Here are five things you should do immediately after an auto accident:

Assess Medical Needs

Safety and medical care are obviously the top priority immediately following an accident. Take inventory of every driver or pedestrian involved and determine if medical attention is needed. Call 911 for medical aide and give them a report of the number of people and vehicles involved. It's wise to call 911 regardless of the severity so you can summon police to file an accident report.

Move The Car If Possible

If you are not needing immediate medical care, try to move the car off the road to prevent further injury. You never know if there will be distracted drivers following close behind and you don't want more cars added to the accident. You lessen the chance of a bigger accident if other vehicles don't have to swerve around your vehicle or slam on their breaks with surprise. If you are not able to safely move the vehicle to the side of the road, wait for the police to show up. Anytime there is debris on the road you need will need to call for emergency services so they can remove it from the street.

Look For A Witness

Accidents can be hard to agree on for countless reasons. Perspective, disagreement regarding fault, and other factors can make it hard to determine how things happened. Finding witnesses to help sort the event out is helpful for everyone involved. Your insurance company will want to have contact information for any witnesses at the scene. If another driver or passerby stops to see if you are okay, ask them for their name and contact details before they leave the scene. Police may want a statement from them too. 

Exchange Info

You need to exchange information with any drivers involved in the accident. Your insurance company and future legal representatives need this information to pursue justice for you. It is against the law for any driver to leave the scene of an accident. Call 911 immediately if you suspect someone is trying to flee without giving their information to you and the police.  You may find yourself dealing with a driver that is uninsured. Having insurance coverage for situations like this can save you a lot of grief.

Take Photos

If you have a camera phone, be sure to take as many photos as possible. It can be hard to recall details or the other party you're dealing with may tell a story that is less than honest. Having photos is a great way to provide more evidence to your accident attorney and help you win!

After you deal with the accident scene, it's time to find a legal professional, such as those found at www.cookevilleinjurylaw.net, to fight for you. A good lawyer can help you fight to have your medical bills paid, car fixed, and pain and suffering awarded. Start looking for the right help so you can get life back on track and put this in the past!


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