Things You Need to Do When Involved in an Accident

Nobody wants to be involved in a very unfortunate road mishap. However, there are instances wherein no matter how careful and vigilant you are on the road, accidents still happen. This article lists down some of the things you need to do when you get involved in an accident.

Call the authorities.

One of the primary things that you need to do when you get involved in an accident is to call the authorities even if you deem that there is nobody seriously injured. The reason behind this is that they will be able to investigate the scene and come up with a report that you may need to file a claim later on. In this case, you can also ask the authorities what is a no fault accident and whether this is applicable for your case. When it is, then nobody involved in the accident would have to prove their case before they will be able to make a claim.

Exchange information with others involved.

Another thing that you can do when you get involved in an accident is to exchange information with others involved in the mishap. This is important for you to get in touch whenever necessary. Some of the details you need to obtain apart from their contact number are their license number, as well as the make and model of their vehicle. In case there are witnesses in the scene, it is also a good idea to get their details if they allow you to do so.

Protect and document the scene.

If you are involved in an accident and you sustained only minor injuries or you were not injured, then make sure that you protect the scene until the authorities arrive. Take some pictures if you can to document the scene, encompassing not only the damage to the vehicles at all angles but the current road and weather conditions as well. This will prove to be a valuable piece of evidence to back up your claim later on particularly if the state that you are in doesn’t implement the no-fault regulation.

Seek medical attention.

Finally, make sure to seek medical attention no matter how small your injuries may seem or even if you feel no pain at all. Keep in mind that certain injuries only manifest a couple of days after the accident. By that time, even if you get yourself checked, the insurance provider may deem that your injuries are no longer connected to the accident that you have been involved with. For this reason, it is always necessary for you to seek medical attention and keep your medical records. In this way, anytime the insurance provider asks for your medical records, you will be able to present them immediately.

When you get involved in an accident, make sure to call the authorities and exchange information with others involved. If you can, protect and document the scene but always remember to still seek medical attention. All these are geared towards ensuring that your rights, as well as the rights of all others involved, are protected during these unfortunate circumstances.

Alicia Baker
Alicia is a Canadian writer whose enthusiasm for cultural and automotive are combined in her writing. Her background includes links to insurance, finance, and automotive safety.