What To Do After A Car Accident
When you get into a car accident there are certain steps that you need to take in order to help make sure that everyone is safe and gets the attention they need. Car accidents are never a pleasant experience and often emotions are going to be running high. There are plenty of things that can make it confusing and it can be easy to make mistakes.
If you have been in an accident then knowing what to do can make your life easier. Here are some of the things that you should do following an accident.
- Don’t Leave The Scene
Don’t leave the scene of the accident until you’ve exchanged information with others involved in the crash. You should stay where you are because leaving a car accident is often considered a crime. You should also contact the police in order to get a police report started. If you leave before then, then you will likely be at risk of getting a hit-and-run charge.
- Check for Injuries
You should figure out if anyone was injured, starting with you and the passengers. Once you know if you or someone else in the car is injured, but is okay, you can then check on the other drivers and passengers. If you discover any injuries, no matter how minor, you should call 911 for not only the police but emergency medical assistance. Even if you aren’t sure if you should make that call, you should do it anyway. It is better to play it safe than sorry.
- Move Vehicles
If the accident was minor and there are no serious injuries, it is often best to try and get all the vehicles involved to move over to the shoulder and outside the flow of traffic. This can help prevent a bigger accident and it will assist the first responders in their attempts to reach the accident.
- Exchange Insurance and Contact Information
You should identify other drivers involved in your accident and get their names, contact information, driver’s license numbers, and car insurance details. If the driver of the car isn’t the owner of the car then you need to get their information too. To prevent any errors in transcription or the loss of information, you should take a picture of the other driver’s insurance card and license just in case. Have them do the same to your information as well.
- Seek Medical Attention
After you are clear to leave, you should seek medical attention right away. Even if you think you aren’t injured. Some injuries take a few hours or even days to show up. It is best to ensure that nothing happened. It can also prove to your insurance company that you did go seek medical attention and are taking it seriously.
With so many things that need to happen after a car accident, it can be easy to feel lost. If you or a loved one have been in an accident then contact a car accident attorney Los Angeles like our friends at Glotzer & Leib LLP for more information about what to expect.