Over the past three years, approximately 40,000 people died in the US due to a fatal road accident, according to the National Safety Council. Experts blame the high fatality rate on driver behavior, particularly those who practice aggressive driving and speeding.
While some road accidents do not end badly, it can still cause a lot of problems to the parties involved in the car crash. It can cause emotional distress and possible lifetime injuries. Others also encounter financial issues since they have to pay for the damages to their vehicle and shoulder the expenses of the other party if they are at fault.
The financial liability may get worse if the car involved in the crash is a classic car since it requires special insurance that increases its value over time. But if you and the other party is in a dispute over who is at fault during the accident, here are the things that you need to do to settle the problem.
Check For Injuries And Call The Police
As soon as you manage to compose yourself after the crash, you need to step out of the vehicle immediately and check if you have any injuries. Since you might experience an adrenaline rush after the accident, you need to thoroughly check for any cuts or bruises. It would also help if you run your hands all over your head to know if you were injured by broken glass. You should also check the other party that they are also fine after the accident. After making sure that you and the other person are fine, you must call the police and report the accident. If anyone is injured call an ambulance right away.
Remain Calm And Gather Important Information
Once you confirm that everyone involved in the accident is not injured, you need to stay calm when talking to the other driver. Exchange essential information like your full names, contact details, addresses, and each other’s driver’s licenses. You should also share each other’s insurance company, policy number, and the company’s contact information. You need to exchange the details of your vehicles like the make, model, and license plate number.
All the information you collect will be useful when you start with your legal consultations. You will also need this when reporting the incident to the local police. You may use the black box of both vehicles (if the cars have one) to provide more details about the accident if you, the other driver and the police cannot determine who is really at fault.
Inform Your Insurance Company
Get in touch with your insurer immediately to inform them about the accident. Most of the time, the insurance company will only honor those who report the incident immediately. If you failed to do that you might miss out on the chance to have the incident covered by your policy. You may also ask your insurer all the questions regarding your coverage, including the time frame for the release of the check. It would also help if you request your insurance adjuster to give you an estimate as soon as possible to prevent any possible delays. This is necessary if you want your vehicle fixed right away.
Knowing what to do after a car accident will help you avoid any problems in the future. Whether you are at fault or if you are just a victim of a car crash, this information will come in handy to prevent the blaming game. You may also consult with an experienced car accident lawyer to help you make good decisions. Their expertise will help you file an insurance claim and get a reasonable compensation in case of any injuries. Just remember to act as soon as possible, since there could be a limited timeframe for filing claims in your state.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
Photo by Taras Makarenko from Pexels
Speak Your Mind