Car accidents are so common that there’s the possibility of you ending up in one or several in your lifetime. Even if you are a safe and responsible driver, not every motorist who is on the road with you is.
Though there are actions you can take to minimize the likelihood of motor vehicle collisions, such as avoiding alcohol and other impairment causing substances and following all traffic laws, not all accidents are unavoidable. Take a look at the following things you should do immediately after a car accident that’s not your fault to protect your right to fair compensation from the insurance company and all liable parties.
Make sure you are safe
Accident scenes are often chaotic. One of the first things you must do in any collision is to assess yourself and passengers for injuries and surroundings for hazards. If possible, move your vehicle to a safe area of the road and use your hazard and emergency lights and cones to alert other motorists to avoid the scene.
Contact the authorities
Call the police and inform them of the situation. Be sure to provide as much information about your location to help speed up their arrival time. Even if there are little to no injuries or property damage, you should still alert the authorities so they can come out to document and process the accident scene to preserve the evidence.
Document the incident
Besides making a report to the police about the accident, you should document the incident for your personal records. Take photos of the crash, license plates and area and write down what you can immediately remember about the accident. Do not forget to take down the names and contact information of any other person who was in the accident or on the scene as a witness.
