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No one leaves for the grocery store expecting to get into an auto accident. But accidents happen every day.
What should you do if you find yourself in a fender bender or car crash? Here are some tips on what to do if you get into a car accident.
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Stop!
Even if you think that the accident was no big deal, you are legally obligated to stop. You need to assess the situation before continuing with your errands for the day.
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Call 911
At times, a car accident is so severe that you must call for an ambulance. Other times, accident victims want to avoid calling for an ambulance after a car crash because they don’t want to pay for a hospital visit. This is a mistake. You should check Uber and Lyft accident liability.
Sometimes injuries don’t look like a cut on the head or a broken bone. You may have a head injury as a result of the accident but not be aware of any signs for several days. To be on the safe side, get checked out by a doctor immediately following an accident.
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Call the police
Call the police to the scene of an accident. You may be required to file a police report before an insurance company will pay to fix your vehicle.
Depending upon the situation, a police officer may or may not be able to come. This is especially true if icy or snowy weather caused a lot of accidents in the region.
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Trade information with the other drivers
Collect the full name, address, phone number, and drivers’ license number from each of the drivers involved with the wreck. Write down the make and model of each of the cars as well as the license plate number. Finally, ask to see proof of insurance, and write down (or take a photo) of the policy number and contact information of the insurance company. Accidents can impact car insurance cover too.
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Get the names of witnesses
Many times after an accident, witnesses will stop. They are especially likely to stop if they saw someone involved in the accident behaving recklessly.
Get the names and phone numbers of the witnesses. Ask them to write down a statement when they get home, so the details of the accident are fresh in their minds.
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Take photos of the accident scene
Take a variety of photos of the accident scene. The images should be taken from many angles and include damage to your vehicle as well as damage to the other cars. Take photos of the surrounding area as well, especially if a tree or sign obstructed your view. Look for missing or blocked traffic signs in the area as well.
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Contact your insurance company
Reach out to your insurance company to receive instructions on how to proceed to fix the damage to your vehicle.
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Research the best accident attorneys in your area
If you were injured in an accident because another driver was driving recklessly, you should not have to pay for the expenses related to the accident. You should also be given compensation if you have to miss work because of the injuries. Also, check out what to look for in a car accident attorney.
Find out how the best accident attorney in your local area can work on your behalf to make sure you get the compensation for which you are entitled.
