A car accident is something one hopes to never experience, but realistically everyone experiences a car accident of some kind at least once in a lifetime. No one drives expecting to get into an accident, so when you experience a car accident it usually leaves you feeling disoriented, scattered and stressed in the moment. Because your adrenaline is pumping and you have just been caught off guard, the post-accident process can be a stressful situation if you are not prepared. Brush up on what to do after a car accident now while you are calm and levelheaded.
Knowing what to do in the event of a car accident before-hand can help the post-accident process go much more smoothly. Check out these 8 tips from Marietta Wrecker Service on what to do after a car accident. These helpful tips to ensure your safety and help you get through the post-accident procedures as seamlessly as possible.
1. Find Safety
Move to a safe area after your accident. If it’s safe to move and you aren’t seriously injured, move your car out of the way of more potential danger. It is best to move your vehicle to the shoulder of the road as far away from traffic as possible. If moving your vehicle is not possible, then be sure to flip on your hazard lights to warn other drivers.
2. Turn Off Your Vehicle
It is important to turn off your vehicle and make sure that it no longer moving. Turn off the engine, shift into park, or set the hand brake if you drive a manual.
3. Calm Down and Make Sure You Are Okay
Check yourself and sure you are okay. After you have assessed your well-being and made sure that you do not have any serious injuries, take a deep breath and try to calm down your nerves. Your heart will be racing and your adrenaline skyrockets after getting in an accident.
3. Check on Others Involved
Check to make sure it’s safe to get out of your car before opening the door. If you happen to have flares or similar road safety items, you should use those during this time. Exit your vehicle and check on all the other parties involved, including drivers, passengers and pedestrians, to make sure no one is hurt. Call 911 if anyone is injured. Even seemingly minor symptoms such as dizziness should be checked out by a health care professional as concussions and whiplash are common car crash casualties.
4. Call the Police
Even if the accident is a minor fender bender, a police accident report can prove invaluable when dealing with your car insurance company and other drivers. Cooperate with the police when they arrive, but avoid admitting fault or blaming others while at the scene. Let the police objectively judge the scene and determine who, if anyone, is at fault in the crash. If the police are unable to make it to the scene of the accident (which is more probable if there are no injuries), you can file an accident report through your state’s DMV.
5. Gather Information
Try to write down as much info as possible in the accident aftermath, including the following:
- Driver and passenger names
- License plate numbers
- Insurance info
- Makes and models of all vehicles involved
- Contact info for any eyewitnesses
- Location of the accident
- The name and badge number of any responding police officers
- Police report number
6. Snap Photos of the Accident Scene
If you have a smartphone with a camera, snap some photos of the accident scene. Take photos of your vehicle’s damage and any other vehicle with damage. Those photos will come in handy during the insurance claim process.
7. Report a Claim
Call your insurance company and file your claim. If you aren’t sure who to call, check your insurance ID card for your insurer’s contact information. Once you speak with your auto insurance company they will usually have you make an appointment to get a vehicle damage estimate at one of their inspection sites. If your car isn’t safe to drive, they will probably send an insurance adjuster to look at your car at the location where it has been towed.
8. Call a Towing Company (If you need one)
If you have been in an accident and need a tow truck company, Marietta Wrecker Service is ready to help out with all of your towing needs. Call us at 770-422-6614 or contact us for more towing information. Check out a list of our services offered here.
To help prevent future stress it may be helpful to keep a vehicle safety kit in your car as well as a phone charger. It is also helpful to keep your most important information such as your vehicle registration, health insurance cards, emergency contacts, and ID in your glove box in case of an accident. Hopefully these tips will help out and will give you a better idea of what to do after a car accident. Drive safely, but be prepared!