Car accidents are one of the most common scenarios a person can find themself in and are often very unsettling. Even the most minor of automobile accidents can throw off your day and make you question whether you took all the right steps to manage the situation.
In the United States alone, there is an average of 6 million car accidents annually. Of those car accidents, an average of 3 million people are injured every year and more than 90 people die every day.
Since automobile accidents are so common, there is a good chance that one day you will find yourself involved in one. Therefore, you need to be prepared. At Holzman & Associates, we recommend following the 4 steps below to ensure that you are safe and cover all the necessary bases for moving forward. You may want to even print these steps and keep them on hand in case of an automobile accident.
The 4 Steps You Should Take After An Accident
- After an automobile accident, the very first step you should take is to make sure you and the other people involved are safe. If anyone needs medical attention, call an ambulance. Even if you are unsure, it is better to be safe than sorry and call for help. You should also call the police to report the accident. If the accident is minor, pull your car off to the side of the road so that it does not impede traffic and everyone can more safely exit their cars. If possible, turn off your car and turn your hazard lights. Now is also a good time to set up any warning triangles or cones if you have any on hand.
- Once safe and help has been called, it is time for you to collect information. You want to make sure the accident is well-documented, including photos of any damage and the scene of the accident. Make a note of the location and address. Take down a description of the automobiles involved, including the make, model, year, and license plate number of each vehicle. You will also want to collect information from the other driver, including their name, driver’s license, auto insurance company name and policy number, and contact information. If there are witnesses, you will want to get their contact information as well. Witnesses can provide valuable testimony at a later date. Lastly, if the police are involved, take down the police officer’s name and badge number. And remember—do not discuss who is at-fault or admit that you have done anything wrong at the scene of the accident.
- After everything at the scene of the car accident is taken care of, file a claim with your auto insurance provider. Call your auto insurance provider as soon as it is safe to report the details of the accident and provide the details about the other people involved. The information you collected in Step 2 will help you significantly during this process.
- Finally, if you have been injured mentally or physically in the car accident, you will want to contact your personal injury law attorney to review your case and your options. It is important that you do not admit fault at the scene of the car accident and do not worry about who is responsible. You should also focus on your health and safety, and leave the compensation matters to the experts. All of these issues will be sorted out by your insurance company and your trusted personal injury law attorney.
For more than 75 years, Holzman & Associates, LLC has obtained substantial verdicts and settlements for injury victims throughout Maryland. Ask around about us! If you believe you are entitled to compensation, contact us at 410-539-4222 for your free consultation.
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