A car accident is one of the most traumatic and overwhelming experiences in life – leaving individuals unsure of how to navigate this situation. A car accident is always unexpected and can even leave you clueless about the steps to take next.
Just like an accident is traumatic, so does the process of navigating it. However, understanding the steps of the accidents can prepare you to reach a smooth resolution.
Curious to know all the steps? If yes, let’s read on to learn the steps in detail:
- First, Always Ensure Your Safety
Before you start doing anything else, it is crucial for you to prioritize your safety and others involved. For this purpose, you might have to move your car to the other side of the road as well. If you’re in the condition to move, it is better to drive your car to a safe location and turn on the hazard lights.
You should also check for injuries and immediately call emergency services if anyone involved in the accident requires medical attention.
- Contact the Authorities Immediately
Even if you think it is a minor accident, you should always involve the police. Therefore, try not to waste any second and contact the local authorities. You can request for an officer to visit the scene.
This way, you can let the police report the scene, which will later provide an official record of the accident. So, when you go through the claim process, it will be invaluable.
- Gather All the Crucial Information
Another important thing that you should consider is collecting information from the scene. This will be useful for you during the filing process of an insurance claim. Therefore, take a step ahead and exchange the contact details, insurance information, and driver’s license number with all the parties involved.
Moreover, take pictures of the accident, including the vehicle damage, skid marks, and road conditions. All of these pictures will act as visual evidence and help in supporting your claim for the compensation.
- Document the Entire Incident
When it comes to navigating the challenges of the claim process, you should remember that every single detail related to the accident matters. To strengthen your claim, you must document all relevant details about the accident.
You can write down the date, time, and location of the accident, along with the weather conditions. This is a thorough description of how the accident occurred, from the direction of travel, traffic signals, and the estimated speed of the vehicle.
The more detailed your documentation will be, the better equipped you will be when dealing with the insurance companies for the claim process.
- Notify Your Insurance Company
Having car insurance not only offers peace of mind but also helps in fulfilling the legal requirements in many jurisdictions. Depending on the location you are living in, it is mandatory for you to carry a minimum to a premium level of car insurance coverage to drive legally.
When an accident happens, it is mandatory for you to promptly report the accident to your insurance company and provide them with accurate details of the accident. At the time, you should also be prepared to answer any questions you are asked to begin with the claim process.
If you fail to notify your insurer in a timely manner, it may result in the denial of your claim.
- Seek Medical Attention
There is a probability that you might not be much injured after the accident. However, still, it is advised to visit your doctor for a checkup. It is completely normal that a few injuries might not be apparent right after the injuries.
But, after a while, you are expected to experience whiplash injury. It could be a head or spinal injury that can be terrible as time passes. Therefore, you must consider consulting a health specialist for the treatment.
The doctor will treat and record all the injuries and ensure that you start to feel better as soon as possible. Remember, injuries resulting from crashes are usually included in your auto insurance claim. That’s why you must consider documenting all the physical harm stemming from the accident.
- Preserve Evidence
It is wise to preserve all the copies of medical bills and records associated with the accident. In addition to this, ensure you get the details, like the car repair estimate and receipt, to solidify the negligent party responsible for the accident.
Collecting all the evidence and then keeping it organized will help your lawyer better assess your case. The more evidence you have, the clearer negotiation will happen.
- Consult an Attorney
The insurance providers will do all in their power to get you to accept their least offer for the compensation. This offer will be too low to cover your damages after the accident.
Therefore, it is advised to always seek the services of an experienced and skilled car accident attorney for your help in this matter. The attorney will evaluate your compensation and include all the losses.
Moreover, with an attorney by your side, you will be more capable of receiving the heftier and deserving compensation to recover.
- Cooperate With the Investigation
One of the major mistakes that you need to avoid is resisting the investigation process. Many people make this mistake as they don’t find themselves comfortable getting inspected after the accident.
However, you need to ensure that when the police arrive, you are present there to explain the details. Whatever questions they ask, respond to them well and furnish them with the necessary information. The police report will contain their conclusions about the crash, testimonies from participants, and tickets given.
- Follow Through on the Claim Process
Navigating a car accident is no easy process. There are several challenges and intricacies in the process which can impact you emotionally and financially. However, understanding our legal rights and hiring the right car accident attorney will make it easier for you.
The attorney will keep you updated on the information and where your case is leading to ensure a promising outcome.