What to Do After a Car Accident?

If you are looking for a checklist to determine what to do after a car accident, then you have come to the right place. There are many things to think about if you have had the misfortune of being in a car accident with another driver of a vehicle. One of the most important things to do is to make sure the other person is not physically hurt. Read on in this article to discover what to do after a car accident checklist?

Never Leave the Scene of a Car Accident

One of the first general rules is never to leave the scene of a car accident. Both parties need to stay on the scene until the police have come and completed an accident report. If one or both parties leave the scene after an accident, they are at risk of being charged with leaving the scene of an accident, and possibly fined and/ or given jail time.

Check to See if the Other Driver is Physically Hurt

Check to see if the other driver is physically hurt after a car accident. This is a common courtesy that should always be done after any accident. If the driver is not hurt, then attend to the other things that need to be done on your checklist. If the other driver is physically hurt, then ensure that an ambulance is called to attend to the other driver’s injuries. .

Call the Police in Order to Get an Accident Report Done

Call the police to get the car accident properly documented. The police will come to assess the accident and prepare an accident report. You will need to get contact information from the police officer including his name telephone number to the police precinct and badge number. Find out how you can get a copy of the police report. and how long it will take before the police report will be ready for pick up. Also, find out the cost of the police report and if there are any stipulations that need to done before obtaining the report.

Check Your Vehicle for Minor or Major Damages

Check for any damages that have been done to different parts of your car. It is important that you walk around your entire car and check to see where the damage has been done. Write down the damages to each area, while noting if the damage is major or minor. If the damage is minor, then you can usually drive off the accident scene once the police have completed their accident report. However, if it is a major damage that renders your vehicle inoperable, then you will need to make preparations to have your car towed to a nearby repair shop. Get the name of the tow driver along with the name and telephone number of the repair shop where your car will be taken.

Get the Name, Address and Telephone Number of the Other Driver

It is important to get as much information from the other driver as possible, including his/her full legal name, address, the name of his/her insurance company and a telephone contact. There is also other important information that you will need for your insurance company that includes the make, year and color of the other driver’s car

Call Your Insurance Company to Report the Accident

Call your insurance company immediately afterwards to report the accident. Your insurance company will need to know the name of the other driver, the name of the other insurance company, address and telephone contact of the other driver. Your insurance company will also need to know when the police report will be available. It is important to be honest with your insurance company so that a correct assessment can be done and you can get paid for any damages to your vehicle.

Do a Self Check for any Injuries Caused By the Car Accident

It is important if you have been physically hurt in the accident, that you immediately go to the emergency room to have accident injuries documented by a physician. You may have to take the other driver to court to get your hospital bills paid.

If you have serious injuries as a result of the car accident, getting the needed help is important for your body. Listen to the hospital doctors with regards to length of stay that may be needed for you to heal. Get the name of the doctor who worked on you in the hospital along with a copy of your medical records. If you end up going to court, you may need your hospital bills and medical records to win your case.

Now that you have seen this what to do after a car accident checklist, you will know how to handle any misfortune that comes from being in a car accident. Remember to never leave the scene of an accident. Leaving the scene of a car accident can give police officers a reason to charge you and could led to fines or jail time. Check the other driver for any injuries and call the police to get an accident report done. The police will usually call an ambulance if needed for the other driver or you. Check your vehicle for any major or minor damages and get the contact information from the other driver including his name, address, telephone number and name of his insurance company. Call your insurance company as soon as possible after your car accident so that they can begin an investigation and get you paid for any damages to your vehicle.

Stay focused on the scene and give the police officer as much specific details about what happened as possible. Specific details mean telling the officer how fast you were going and other details about the other driver’s speed as well. Speak to the police officer about any erratic behavior by the other driver like if it seemed that the other driver was drinking. A detailed report could be the difference between you being found at fault for the car accident versus the other driver.