Car accidents account for about $871 billion in economic and societal costs. There are medical costs, property costs, lost income, and psychological costs, just to name a few issues that arise from car accidents.
Insurance covers some of these costs, and you don’t want to be stuck with a large medical bill because you didn’t take the proper steps after an accident.
There could be legal implications for your actions following a car accident, too.
Don’t get caught off-guard. Read on to find out what you need to do if you’ve been in a car accident.
1. See If Everyone Is OK
Your first step after a car accident is to make sure that everyone involved is OK. Don’t talk about what happened or lay blame on anyone out of frustration.
Just be a human being and make sure that people are OK. Your responsibility is to call for medical attention if someone is injured.
2. Don’t Talk Too Much
Anything that you say after the car accident can be held against you later on. That’s why it’s important to keep your cool and say as little as possible.
For example, you can feel physically fine moments after an accident. That’s because your physiological response releases adrenaline into your body.
That can mask any muscular injuries at that moment. However, they can appear a few days later. You can feel extreme soreness or bruising that you didn’t know existed at the time.
It will be much harder to show that your injuries are because of the car accident.
3. Document Everything Possible
You have to make sure that you have as much proof from the scene of the accident as possible. Take pictures of the car damage and also the conditions leading up to the accident.
If there was a major pothole in the area, document it. If the road conditions were slick, document that as well.
4. Report the Accident
Your next step is to file a report with your insurance company. You may not want to call the police if it was a minor accident.
You should report all accidents to the police because they’ll file a police report. This can help your case and your insurance claim.
5. Call a Personal Injury Attorney
After your accident, you’re going to have to deal with insurance companies. Your medical bills should be paid for by insurance companies after an accident.
This can be a long and painful process because insurance companies will do everything possible to discount your claim.
They may offer less money than you’re entitled to or deny your claim altogether. You’ll want to work with a personal injury attorney to make sure you get what you deserve.
Know What to Do After a Car Accident
You never expect to get into a car accident. You have to know the steps to take immediately after a car accident. You’ll need to document as much as you can and report the accident to the police and insurance.
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