Tips to Keep in Mind After a Car Accident |
Posted: September 25, 2014 |
You will typically be unprepared when a car accident occurs, and this can result in both you and the other driver feeling shocked and shaken following the collision. Although it can be difficult to gain control of your emotions after the accident, remaining calm in the situation will help you to obtain the information that you need. This will ultimately help you when dealing with both your insurance company and the other driver's insurance company.
Assess the Need for Medical Intervention After you've had a car accident, first make sur
Call the Police If you've only had a minor accident and nobody has been injured, you may be uncertain whether or not to call the police. You might feel uncomfortable calling them for an incident that you do not consider major. However, most insurance companies will want to have a police report filed. This is especially true in hit-and-run accidents, according to AOL Autos.
Keep Yourself Safe Remain away from the oncoming traffic if at all possible while waiting on emergency personnel. Although it may be tempting to express your frustrations towards the other driver, try to remember that losing your temper or getting into any type of confrontation with them can reflect badly on you when the police report is filed. This can have long term ramifications when you are dealing with insurance companies. Additionally, try not to admit that that you were at fault for the accident, even if you believe this is true.
Obtain Insurance Information Ideally, you should call your insurance company immediately after contacting medical professionals and the police. Depending upon your policy, they may come to the scene of the accident. Otherwise, your insurance company can provide guidance in how to survey the area that the car crash occurred in, and they can provide instructions on what type of information you need to obtain from the other driver. AOL Autos cites insurance company vice presidents who state that the back of the insurance ID card provides a list of information that is valuable. In addition to gaining this information from the other driver, you should provide your own insurance information to them.
Take as Many Records as You Can If your cell phone comes equipped with a camera and is undamaged, you have an easy way to record the scene of the accident. You might also wish to keep a disposable camera in your car in order to record the scene. Photographing damages, license plates and road position of the vehicles involved in the accident may be crucial information for the insurance companies at a later date. Immediately following an accident, focus on remaining calm and following these tips. If you begin to experience any discomfort following the accident, seek medical help right away. Both insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits have strict time limits associated with filing, and you will need to act quickly if you believe that you have sustained injuries due to the other driver's actions.
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