You don't want to be involved in an accident of any kind, but in case you do end up in the middle of one, it would help a lot to know what you should do.
It might not be easy to think straight when you're in the middle of an accident but it can be vital.
You need all your wits in order to remember these tips that we have listed here for handling a car accident: • Safety should come first, so you should make sure that you are okay and that you are not hurt in any way.
Then check the passengers in your car if you are with someone and make sure that they're okay.
Then you can go and see if the passengers in the other vehicle or vehicles are unhurt or otherwise.
• If someone was hurt then the priority should be to call 911.
For minor accidents, where there are no injuries involved, you should move the vehicles to the side of the road.
For major ones where there is a question of liability, the vehicles should be left in place until the police are on the scene.
• If you are not injured then you can get out of your vehicle.
Stay clear from oncoming traffic, if you prefer you can just stay on the vehicle until a police officer arrives on the scene, but just make sure that your hazard lights are on.
• It is important to have the police on the scene even if it is just a minor accident.
Don't allow yourself to be convinced by others that it would not be necessary.
You would need a police report for the incident.
• You should exchange information with the other driver.
This is where a lot of people commit the mistake of giving too much information, leaving them wide open for identity theft.
Sometimes the name and the insurance companies are all that's needed for minor car accidents.
• If the accident happened in a location where there are other people, then try getting witnesses right away.
That is going to be needed when your version of what happened is different from the version of the other driver.
• Take photos of the scene of the accident.
This is very easy now with the cameras included on most cell phones.
Try to include details of the scene that could be helpful, such as the plate number of the other vehicle, the relative positions of the vehicles involved, and the location including landmarks in the area.
• Don't admit to anyone that it was you who caused the accident.
Let others decide on that matter.
Just stay mum on that.
• Write down everything that had happened and all the information that you have gathered regarding the accident.
You are going to need all of the data later on when you are going to file for a claim.
• Get an attorney right away, especially if the accident involves some form of injury.
You need to protect your rights and a lawyer would be the best help that you can get for that.
It might not be easy to think straight when you're in the middle of an accident but it can be vital.
You need all your wits in order to remember these tips that we have listed here for handling a car accident: • Safety should come first, so you should make sure that you are okay and that you are not hurt in any way.
Then check the passengers in your car if you are with someone and make sure that they're okay.
Then you can go and see if the passengers in the other vehicle or vehicles are unhurt or otherwise.
• If someone was hurt then the priority should be to call 911.
For minor accidents, where there are no injuries involved, you should move the vehicles to the side of the road.
For major ones where there is a question of liability, the vehicles should be left in place until the police are on the scene.
• If you are not injured then you can get out of your vehicle.
Stay clear from oncoming traffic, if you prefer you can just stay on the vehicle until a police officer arrives on the scene, but just make sure that your hazard lights are on.
• It is important to have the police on the scene even if it is just a minor accident.
Don't allow yourself to be convinced by others that it would not be necessary.
You would need a police report for the incident.
• You should exchange information with the other driver.
This is where a lot of people commit the mistake of giving too much information, leaving them wide open for identity theft.
Sometimes the name and the insurance companies are all that's needed for minor car accidents.
• If the accident happened in a location where there are other people, then try getting witnesses right away.
That is going to be needed when your version of what happened is different from the version of the other driver.
• Take photos of the scene of the accident.
This is very easy now with the cameras included on most cell phones.
Try to include details of the scene that could be helpful, such as the plate number of the other vehicle, the relative positions of the vehicles involved, and the location including landmarks in the area.
• Don't admit to anyone that it was you who caused the accident.
Let others decide on that matter.
Just stay mum on that.
• Write down everything that had happened and all the information that you have gathered regarding the accident.
You are going to need all of the data later on when you are going to file for a claim.
• Get an attorney right away, especially if the accident involves some form of injury.
You need to protect your rights and a lawyer would be the best help that you can get for that.
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