Fortunately, we are not involved in a car accident every day. On the other hand, that is the reason we usually do not realize what we should do and what we are not allowed to do when such an accident has happened to us. Read and remember the following tips not to make mistakes and keep calm in a difficult moment.
- Try to calm down. Breath, do nothing for a moment and try to assess the situation you are in. Do not try to move if you are hurt or have severe pain. (Pain may appear many hours after the accident, do not ignore it and see your doctor).
- Report the accident to the police – just call 911. Even if it is a small accident, a police report is required to file an insurance claim.
- Don’t move or drive away from the accident site. No matter whose fault it is, moving away from the scene of an accident can be treated as an escape and will make the difficult situation even worse for you.
- Take photos from the scene of the accident as detailed as possible: cars, damage, street name, people involved in the accident and witnesses. All this can be useful while reporting to insurance company.
- Don’t blame the other driver, but don’t plead guilty. In some states, even the word “sorry” may be considered as an admission of guilt and liability for the consequences of an accident. The police and then the insurers will determine which party is responsible for the accident.
- Report the accident to your insurance company or agent. The sooner you do it, the better – it will speed up the claim payment but will also protect your interests if the other party wants to report false damage or non-existent health issues.