5 Things to do After a Car Accident

Did you know that over 90 people die in car accidents each day? The very nature of driving is dangerous. You are at risk of succumbing to external forces that leave you or a loved one fighting for your life. It’s important to drive as carefully as possible in order to protect yourself and the people in your vehicle, known as passengers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 8% of accidents in Atlanta alone proved fatal. 

According to Julian Lewis Sanders & Associates, an Atlanta car accident lawyer, there are many factors that come into play when a car accident occurs. It’s important to be aware of such causes so you know how to prevent yourself from getting into a wreck.

●  If you’re a distracted driver, this means you could be texting, talking on the phone, listening to music, putting on makeup, handling children in the car, daydreaming, etc.

●  Fatigue or exhaustion, as in falling asleep at the wheel

●  Not following the rules of the road such as driving past a stop sign or red light

●  Driving under the influence such as alcohol or drugs

●  Aggressive driving such as speeding or cutting others off

Car accidents can occur at no fault to you. There may be cases where you are the victim of a reckless driver. In other cases, you may be at fault. Mistakes happen. In today’s blog, we’re going over each step to take after a car accident.

1.   Document the Accident With Photos or Video

Call 911 and give them details about your accident, including your location. While you wait for law enforcement and an ambulance to arrive (if applicable), you should document the accident to help with filing your insurance claim or if the accident is taken to court. 

Wait before moving your car or touching anything. It’s best to use any phone or camera (if you have that on hand) to take photos of the scene. The more physical evidence you have on you the better, so be sure to capture a range of perspectives.

When photographing or taking the video, be sure to capture damages like: 

●  Injuries to your person

●  Damages to your vehicle

●  Damages to the other vehicles involved in the accident

●  Street signs, barricades, poles, and anything else that gives an indication of location and damages.

●  Debris caused as a result of the accident

2.   Remove Yourself From Oncoming Traffic

Once you have documented everything, if possible you should remove yourself from the road and any oncoming traffic (if applicable), such as an intersection or highway. Find a sidewalk or side of the ride to try and move your vehicle, if you can. Do this as soon as it is safe. If able, you should also try and clear any large debris that could interfere with drivers that are passing by. This is to ensure another vehicle or person does not accidentally hit the debris and winds up getting involved in the accident.

3.   Assess Yourself and Others for Any Injuries

Take a moment to assess your body and make note of any pain points. Be sure to also make note of the injuries on anyone else involved, including the other vehicle and any passengers. If you think that you or anyone else has a traumatic injury that needs to be checked, be sure to call 911 to get an ambulance over to the scene as soon as possible. Every second count in these situations.

4.   Collect Information of the Scene

Now that everything is documented and everyone is out of harm’s way, be sure to get the contact information of anyone that was involved in the accident, including their name, phone number, insurance information, and license plate number. The person may also ask you for this information, so be sure to provide.

By now, the police officer should have arrived at the scene of the accident. They will also gather this information from both sides, including details leading up to the crash and how it was caused. Everything will be documented in a police report detailing the events that led up to the accident.

5.   Call Your Insurance Company and Lawyer

Often, it’s someone else who is at fault for a car accident. Once you have taken your car to the shop or had it towed to your house, contact your insurance company and file a claim by reporting your vehicular accident. Next, get in touch with a lawyer. Both these steps will ensure you are compensated for any physical, mental, and vehicular injuries as a result of the accident.