5 Critical Steps to Follow When You Are Involved in a Car Accident That’s Not Your Fault

Accidents happen daily! The reality is they can happen to anyone at any time. You can be driving while observing all the rules – no checking your phone, not even tuning your radio – only to hear the crunch of steel and you are jerked back and forth violently.

You are unpleasantly pulled out of your car by the accident and your day is cut short by the carelessness of the other driver. Car accidents are never fun because you have a lot to deal with after they happen.

So what do you do after you are involved in an accident? These are the steps you take after an accident regardless of who is at fault.

Immediately after an accident remains calm

Remaining calm will help you take note of your injuries. Check on all the drivers and passengers who may be involved in the accident and help those who need emergency care. Call an ambulance immediately for a quick response. If you are hurt, don’t start by thinking how much damage has been done to your car. Simply call an ambulance to pick you up. If you are still able to drive, move your cars to the side of the road to allow traffic to move easily and avoid another collision.

Gather information

Accidents happen so fast that it’s not easy to gather all the information required fast. Take your time and gather all the information you need from the driver who hit you. Do not assume that this driver will take responsibility for the accident so do not leave the scene of the crime unless you have to be taken to the hospital. In this case, call an ambulance and the police so they can arrive at the scene to help with getting the details as you are transferred to a hospital. The details that you are supposed to gather are:

• Photographs of the scene – Include the license plate number of the car that hit you and the site of the damage.
• Name, address as well as the telephone number of the other driver
• Insurance company name and policy number
• Witness statements and their contact information, if any

Call the police

If you have not called the police yet, call them now. It is important for the police to view the damage and the accident scene and get to hear from both you and the driver who hit you.

Contact your insurance company

Contacting your auto insurance company is important while you are at the scene of the accident so that if need be, they can send their representative to inspect the scene and talk to the insurance company of the driver that hit you. Do not ignore this step because the insurance company of the driver that hit you can deny responsibility. Informing your insurance company early enough helps you get backup.

Have your lawyer evaluate your car accident

Finally, call your lawyer to help you carry out evaluations of your car while still at the accident scene. You may also ask additional questions about any legal steps you might take if the driver who hit you and his insurance company do not accept liability.