What to Do If You’re in a Car Accident: Complete Checklist
Every driver, no matter how experienced on the road, should know exactly what to do after a car accident. Some people have no idea where to start while others miss key steps along the way. According to A.J. Bruning, a personal injury attorney with a car accident law firm in St. Louis, all drivers should know the full steps to take.
Keeping a copy of this complete checklist handy in your glove compartment or sharing it with your loved ones can help them if they ever wind up in a crash.
Immediate Steps After a Crash
Check Yourself and Any Passengers for Injuries
At the moment you realize you’ve been in a car accident, check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If you are seriously hurt or can’t move, call 911 or ask someone else to call the police and an ambulance.
Get to Safety
In accidents where vehicles are in a dangerous spot, it is best to pull to the side of the road if you are capable of taking this action. If it can’t be driven or you’re seriously hurt, you should get out of harm’s way unless your injuries prevent you from moving.
Wait for Help
After calling 911, wait at the scene for help. Calling the police is required when there is extensive property damage, injuries, or fatalities. Even if no one seems to be hurt, the police will fill out an accident report with important information and observations from the crash. This report will be important when you file an insurance claim.
Exchange Information with the Other Driver
Another requirement by law is to exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver. You both should supply each other with your full names, contact information, insurance company and policy number, driver’s license number, and license plate number. It also helps to log additional information including the make, model, and color of the vehicle and the location of the crash.
Keep this exchange factual and without discussing fault. You may feel sorry that this has happened, though saying so could be used against you as an admission of fault.
Get Evidence
If you are physically capable of moving around, while officers investigate the crash, you can gather your own evidence without getting in the way. Get photos of both vehicles from every angle to capture all damage as well as photos of the surrounding area and conditions. It is always smart to get a photo of the other driver’s license plate. Some drivers may be under the influence or have a warrant for a previous crime, and they may flee the scene, leaving you to use your own insurance. By getting as much evidence as possible, you’ll be protecting yourself.
Do Not Refuse Medical Treatment
One of the most important steps immediately after a car accident is to get medical treatment right away. Some victims suffer serious, life-threatening injuries and when police arrive, they have paramedics take them by ambulance to the nearest hospital. For many others though, they may have a false sense of security by not seeing any visible cuts.
The biggest mistake you can make is skipping medical care, even if you think you’re absolutely fine. If it’s not life-threatening, go to the hospital or an urgent care after the police wrap things up. You can also visit your own doctor, though you should do this as soon as possible after the accident to avoid issues with the insurer. Insurance companies use delayed treatment as a way to deny injury claims.
Steps to Take After Medical Treatment and Leaving the Scene
Once the police have finished at the scene and you have been treated for your injuries, you should make sure to take these steps:
Notify Your Own Insurer
Most insurance policies require in their coverage terms that policyholders must report any accident to them, regardless of fault. You need to make them aware that an accident has occurred, though watch what you say. Stick to the facts and do not speculate or get too chatty about how you’re feeling.
Contact the At-Fault Party’s Insurer
When the other driver is the one who caused the crash, their insurance is responsible for covering the costs of your injuries and damages. Whether you are speaking to their insurer or your own, never make a recorded statement without either discussing with an attorney first or having your attorney take over all correspondence on your behalf.
In situations that are minor fender benders without injuries, you can likely navigate the process on your own. However, if you suffered injuries, do not let the insurance companies trick you into a lower settlement.
Organize and Document Everything Related to Your Accident
You will have a police report, medical records of your treatments, medical bills and receipts, repair estimates for your vehicle, photos, and many more items that document your accident for your insurance claim. Keep these things organized as you will need to submit them with your insurance claim for your settlement. By staying organized, you reduce the risk of forgetting to send key evidence that proves your injury severity and impacts, thereby reducing the chances of being denied.
Follow Up with All Medical Advice and Requirements
Did the doctors who saved your life at the hospital tell you that you’d need additional surgeries? Were you issued a prescription medication, or asked to see a specialist about your injuries? Always follow up on what you are told by the doctors. If you are prescribed medication, take the entire course of it even if you feel better before you get to the end. If you have to see a specialist, make the appointment and go. Not following through can have consequences on your claim and the insurance company will likely reduce or deny your settlement, citing that your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim since you’re not doing what your doctors advised.
Ask an Attorney to Review Your Case
Most victims in car accidents take the first settlement they’re offered, and that winds up costing them dearly down the road. The initial offer is always low and seldom includes all of your losses, and by accepting it, you may not receive enough to cover your medical costs, much less anything else. Set up a free consultation with a car accident attorney who can make sure it’s fair and help you through the rest of your case.
