*Being involved in a car accident is stressful even if it is just a simple fender bender. Although injuries to yourself and damages to your car might not be as bad as it might be if it were a major accident, it’s still just as much of a headache. This is why it’s important to follow all of the main steps that should be taken after a car accident.
The best way to keep the process simple and stress-free is to know what to expect and what to do before you’re involved in one. Having this knowledge ready keeps you prepared and keeps you calm if you ever were to be involved in one. Ready to learn what to do in a minor car accident?
Stay prepared and continue reading below!
Pull-Over into a Safe Location
The first and most important thing is your safety. Sometimes, one minor accident can cause several accidents or a major accident if the proper precautions aren’t taken. Once the minor accident happens, pull your car over into a safe location.
Remember to put your hazard lights on, which will warn other drivers. Once you know that you and the other party are safe, you can calmly move on to the following steps.
Check For Any Injuries
Once you are safe, check yourself and anyone else in your car for injuries. Even if you feel fine, there might be an injury that’s unnoticed. Because your adrenaline rises after being involved in an accident, you might not be aware of some injuries.
Also, keep in mind that it’s always best to see a doctor shortly after being involved in an accident, even a minor one. Some injuries might not surface until weeks, months, or years after an accident. And if you don’t see a doctor within a certain amount of time after the accident, you might not be able to file an injury claim with the insurance if you notice an injury later on.
Call 911 if Needed
The next step is to call 911 if needed. This isn’t something that’s always needed and this step also might depend on the state that you live in and the laws there. However, if you believe that there’s a chance that the other driver might try to dismiss their fault in the accident, then it might be a good idea to call the police to have them write out a police report for the accident.
This is important if you believe that you’re not at fault. The police will come out and write down the details of the accident, which insurance companies might ask for.
Exchange Insurance Information and Take Pictures
Always be sure to exchange insurance information, even if the accident didn’t leave much damage. Just as with your injuries to your body, some damages to your car might not turn up until a later date. Get all of the insurance information from the other driver and then take pictures of everything.
Pictures sometimes help insurance companies decide who was at fault and might come in handy especially if there isn’t a police report.
Call Your Insurance Provider
Once you’ve completed the steps above, it’s time to call your insurance provider to report the accident and file a claim. If you believe that it was the other driver’s fault, then your insurance provider will go after the other driver’s insurance. If you’re at fault, then your insurance provider will cover the cost of the damages depending on your coverage.
Contact an Attorney
The very last thing to consider is contacting an attorney. A car wreck attorney will work with you to maximize your recovery. Hiring an attorney takes a lot of stress away from you as he or she will be the main person dealing with the insurance providers and anyone else involved such as witnesses, auto repair shops, and more.
An attorney gives you peace of mind and is something to consider if you believe that you are entitled to compensation.
Know What to do in a Minor Car Accident
You should always stay prepared and know what to do in a minor car accident before it happens. Stay calm, follow these steps, and ease yourself from the stress.
Interested in learning more tips and guides on other important topics? Keep checking back with us regularly for more!
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
