On average, there are approximately 6 million car accidents that take place in the U.S. every year. These accidents cause more than 3 million injuries and result in the deaths of more than 30,000 people.
With these startling statistics in mind, you should make every effort to avoid getting into car accidents at all costs. You should also make sure you’re wearing your seatbelt at all times when you’re driving to reduce the chances of you getting hurt or even killed in an accident.
Additionally, educate yourself on what to do when dealing with car crash aftermath. You should be prepared to spring into action right away if you’re ever involved in an accident.
Check out 7 tips on what to do after a car accident below.
1. Begin by Making Sure You and Your Passengers Are OK
The very first thing you should do in the aftermath of a car accident is check to see if you were injured in the crash. You might be a little bit stunned over what took place at first, so start by gathering your thoughts before checking yourself for injuries.
If there were passengers in your car at the time of the accident, you should check on them as well once you’ve checked yourself out. The goal should be to make sure everyone is OK before getting out of your car.
2. Step Out of Your Car and Get to Safety
Once you know that everyone in your vehicle is OK following a car accident, you should step out of your car and make your way to a safe area.
Ideally, you should find a sidewalk or a median where you and your passengers can gather. This will prevent you from getting injured or killed in the event that another driver comes along and hits your car while it’s stopped in the middle of the road.
In addition to getting yourself to safety, you should also check on the condition of the other driver (or drivers) involved in the accident. Check with them to see if they’re in need of any immediate medical care.
3. Call 911 Right Away
If your car accident took place on a busy street with other drivers and pedestrians around, there’s a good chance that they’ve already called 911 at this point. Most people will dial 911 after witnessing a car crash.
But it’s better to be safe than sorry. So once you make your way to safety, you should take out your phone and call 911 right away. Let them know where your accident took place, and if anyone is in need of medical care, let them know that as well.
The 911 operator that you speak with will send the police out to the car crash aftermath. They’ll also send paramedics if anyone was injured during the accident.
4. Provide an Accurate Statement to Police
When police arrive on the scene, they’re going to want to speak with all of the drivers who were involved in the accident that took place. They’ll also sometimes want to speak with passengers and any witnesses who saw the crash happen.
While speaking with a police officer about the crash, you should talk about what happened from your perspective. Provide the police with as many details about the accident as you can so that they can create a report about it.
5. Avoid Admitting Fault For the Accident
While you don’t necessarily want to lie to police when talking to them about what took place during the accident, you also want to steer clear of admitting fault for the accident.
Even if you think you may have been at fault, there is absolutely no reason for you to admit to it. It’s up to police and your auto insurance company to determine who is to blame for the crash.
6. Contact Your Auto Insurance Company as Soon as Possible
Unfortunately, about 13 percent of the people driving around in the U.S. today are uninsured. Even though it’s illegal in every state except New Hampshire to drive without auto insurance and a vehicle registration, there are many people who take the chance and drive with no insurance.
Hopefully, you’re not one of them!
As long as you have auto insurance, you should contact your auto insurance company following an accident to let them know what happened. They’ll ask you a series of questions and have you exchange insurance information with the other drivers involved in the crash.
It’s best to call your auto insurance company sooner than later, especially if your car or one of the other cars in the accident sustained a lot of damage. It’ll ensure that your car insurance company helps everyone make repairs right away.
7. Reach Out to a Lawyer to See If They Can Help
Were you injured in the car accident that you were involved in?
If so, you should always seek medical care right away. You should get a ride to the hospital as soon as you can to get checked out.
You should also touch base with a personal injury attorney in your area. They can let you know if you might be entitled to any money as a result of your accident.
It never hurts to speak with a lawyer about your accident. If nothing else, it’ll give you peace of mind that you wouldn’t have otherwise during car crash aftermath. Besides doing all the aftermath, a car accident attorney will help to file the claim and get the most compensation that you deserve.
Dealing With Car Crash Aftermath Accordingly Is Important
A car accident can be a real shock to your system. Even if it was a relatively minor crash, you might be dazed and confused for a few minutes after it happens.
Don’t allow the shock to make you skip any of the steps that we’ve laid out here. It’s very important for you to respond accordingly to car crash aftermath so that both you and your vehicle are protected.
Would you like to make sure you and your family stay safe when you’re driving around during your next road trip? Take a look at our blog to find 5 tips for taking a successful road trip.