According to the NHTSA report, nearly 6.1 million car accidents happen in the United States on a yearly basis. Unfortunately, the number is growing, and every state now has a fair share of car accidents.
While it is terrifying to be involved in a car crash, not knowing how to deal with the aftermath can also be frustrating. That’s why it is crucial to educate yourself ahead of time before you’re too shaken up to think about anything after a car crash.
To help you handle the least expected situation on the road, here are 8 solid strategies that can keep you and your family members aware of making the claiming process easier after a car accident.
1.Stay Calm and Plan your Next Steps
Well, no one makes up their mind to face a car accident by the time of leaving home or work. This is something that doesn’t casually pass around the thought process. That is why being involved in a car accident hits like a surprise and makes you terrified, stressed, and overwhelmed.
Even if you experience a minor crash, it can trigger your brain response and cause emotional trauma. It can lead to mental confusion, which will impact your decision-making abilities regarding the accident.
To handle this situation, what best you can consider is staying calm for a while. This will give your brain a break from constant thoughts and allow you to think rationally.
By staying relaxed, you can start to have a clear image of the accident and plan your next steps wisely, such as deciding to call a Car Accident Lawyer to handle injury claims and help you with the compensation. Whatever actions you will take will have a consequence, which can make your claiming process complicated.
So, don’t take hasty action and avoid getting yourself out of the car immediately.
2.Inspect Accident Injuries
Car accidents can result in extensive emotional and physical injuries. Depending on the intensity of the accident, it can lead to life-threatening conditions. If you experience a minor collision, it can still leave a significant influence on your mental health and might cause you internal injury.
That’s why it is advised to check yourself and other parties after the collision immediately. If you don’t find yourself injured, there is a chance of having an adrenaline rush after the accident. This can mask your pain for a day.
So, don’t ignore your health and call for emergency assistance for yourself and other injured people around the crash site.
3.Move the Vehicle to a Safe Location
If you are capable of driving after the accident, it is safe to drive your car carefully to the side of the road. This act can prevent impeding traffic. Keep your hazard lights on and set up a flare to keep the other drivers alert of your situation. This way, you can ensure the safety of other drivers on the road.
On the other hand, if someone gets injured after the accident or the collision is massive, leave the car on the road. It is safe not to drive if an accident has taken place on the highway or busy street. Handling this situation is critical as you have to be more careful when getting out of the car to keep yourself safe.
4.Record the Scene
Once you are out of the car, analyze the damage for a while to record the details. This will help you further with the claiming process. The best thing you can do is to record as many details as you can about the accident. Get your phone to take pictures or make videos to capture the whole scenario.
Experts have also advised to take close-up pictures of both car’s damages. Record the street name or location, including the time and date.
Many people forget to capture the position of the cars on the street. Ensure you don’t forget to capture all the details and make a record voice memo to dictate what happened. At that time, you will have a fresh memory of the whole situation. Keeping it recorded will benefit you and strengthen your claim process.
5.Call the Police
Reporting the accident is another essential factor that you should consider at the time of the crash. Depending on the state you are living in, you can call the police and inform them about the crash.
If the collision is minor and there are no such injuries, the policy may not respond to it. If the damage is severe or the other party is aggressive, immediately call the police to arrive at the scene.
When the police arrive, record the details of their name, department, and contact information. Be sure you get a copy of the report from the officer as well.
6.Call a Tow Truck
If your car has sustained a significant collision, it will need to be towed to a collision repair center. Depending on the damage to your vehicle, you can call for roadside assistance. While you are calling for roadside assistance, don’t assume they will be reputable.
There are several towing scams you need to watch out for. Otherwise, they will hold your car unless you pay a hefty fee to them.
7.Contact Your Insurance Company
It can be pretty tempting to negotiate a cash deal to prevent insurance claims. However, not notifying your insurance company after a car accident can leave you liable for the damages.
The more immediately you will inform the insurance provider, the earlier they will assess the damage and find the coverage plan for you. The claiming process can be critical and complex. Ensure you do your research and have all the information to make the wise decision for your car recovery.
8.See a Doctor
Even if you are perfectly fine after a car accident, it is advised to visit a doctor to identify the impact. Any injury or whiplash you will experience after the car crash will be included in the insurance claiming process. That’s why you need to be proactive in documenting your physical and mental harm after the accident.
