Being in a car accident is a scary feeling. In the moments before the other car hits you, you may feel like you cannot move or react fast enough to stop the accident.
The moments after a car accident are essential. There are several steps you should take to make sure you have the information you need before everyone leaves the scene.
These are the most critical steps you should take after a car accident.
Get to safety
A car accident often means you and your vehicle are in the middle of the street. Other drivers may not expect to drive up to a crash scene, so it is essential to get to safety.
Even if you cannot move your car, you should get yourself and any of your passengers to the side of the road and out of the way.
Call 911
Once you are safe, you should call 911 to get support from police and medical professionals. You will need to make a report of what happened during the accident both to make a personal injury claim and to make a car insurance claim. The police report will also help you exchange information with the other people involved in the accident.
If you do not need medical care at the scene, you should still go to urgent care so that a doctor can check for injuries. Some injuries are easy to overlook right after the accident, and seeing a doctor right away will show that the injuries came from the accident.
Take notes and pictures
If the scene is safe, you should take pictures of the damage to your vehicle and the area where the crash took place. You should also take notes about the circumstances of the accident and any notable factors such as weather or a distracted driver.
In the hours and days after a crash, your memory will fade, and it will be difficult to remember the details of what happened. When you can write a few notes and get pictures, it can support your story about the accident.
