What to Do After a Car Accident: A Step-by-Step Guide

Being in a car accident can be a confusing and frightening experience, particularly if you're traveling to find the next great craft brewery or just enjoying the open road. Life is all about enjoying the trip and the final destination, but unforeseen circumstances might occasionally cause such plans to fall through. The secret is to remain composed, make the appropriate decisions, and return your focus to the people and experiences you value most.

As a community that values quality, care, and responsibility, it's critical to understand how to deal with these unforeseen situations safely and efficiently. This following approach will help you confidently manage the aftermath of an accident, focusing on your safety, and loved ones, and getting back on the road to your next adventure. 

Step 1: Check for Injuries and Ensure Safety 

One of the most common pieces of advice given by Midland car accident attorney Jimmy Doan is to check yourself and anyone else for injuries right away. Look for any visible signs of harm from the accident and ask all your passengers if they are okay. In the event someone is seriously injured, don’t waste time. Call 911 right away to request medical help. Never move anyone who appears badly hurt unless their life is in danger, such as being near a fire in the car. 

Step 2: Contact Emergency Services

It’s a good idea to dial an emergency number to inform the police as well when you are involved in a minor car accident. It is always wise to gather as much evidence as possible on the incident—whether it involves alcohol-related accidents or other driving faults—as an official incident book can provide invaluable details when filing an insurance claim or seeking legal redress.  The officer that will arrive at the scene will investigate the incident, take down some notes, and take statements from all the people involved so after that ask for the report or how can you get a copy. Informing the police of an accident with a car is legal in many places if certain conditions are met, so check what the current laws are where you live.

Step 3: Exchange Information with the Other Party 

When you are stuck in the car, waiting for emergency response teams to arrive at the scene, begin to swap some crucial details with the other driver. The key pieces of information you will want to collect include:

• Their full name and contact information
• Their driver identification number
• Their license identification number
• Their insurance company name and policy ID

It’s normal to feel upset after an accident but keep the conversation as polite and professional as possible. Don’t admit or indicate any fault, including apologizing, even if you do feel responsible. A simple statement can be misconstrued as an admission of guilt which could impact your insurance claim or legal case.

Step 4: Document the Accident 

Documenting the accident scene will be one of the most important steps that you can take to strengthen your case. Use your phone to take detailed photos and videos of any damage to the vehicles involved, visible injuries, the license plates on the vehicles, road conditions after the crash, traffic signals, the weather, and more. Jot down the time and date of the accident, along with the location and other relevant details, as this evidence will be critical when explaining what happened to insurance adjustors or the court. 

Step 5: Gather Witness Information

If someone randomly is near you and sees the accident, ask them politely for their contact information, name, number, and or email. A witness can tell the happening from a completely different angle, which may be beneficial to prove your right and the other party at fault. As breweries enjoy fresh and spontaneous comments from the patrons as they explore that beer, opinions that might have followed an accident can be just as trustworthy if more specific to distinguish between an innocent and a guilty party in a courtroom. By doing so, not only do you remain safe, but you can still appreciate little things. 

Step 6: Contact Your Insurance Provider 

Leaving the accident scene doesn’t mean your responsibilities are over. Go ahead and contact your insurance provider ASAP. Prompt reporting of an accident is common for most insurance policies if you want it to stay active. When you are speaking to your insurance provider, only stick to the facts of what happened such as the when and where, who was involved, and the extent of damage to vehicles or people. Avoid making speculations about fault or providing unnecessary details as insurers may use this information to limit or deny your insurance. If the other party’s insurance company contacts you then direct them to your lawyer or insurer. 

Step 7: Seek Medical Attention for All Injuries

In some cases, you might not get any apparent signs of an injury even after a car accident – whiplash, concussion, and internal bleeding, for example, may only become apparent later. A consultation with a doctor can help you get a full medical check-up, be it a doctor will diagnose any unseen injuries while giving you an opportunity to receive the right treatment before the condition worsens. Medical records will also be useful in case you have to seek justice in a personal injury case but do not forget that procrastination will rarely do good to either your health or your justice. 

Step 8: Keep Detailed Records of Expenses and Damages

One of the common and unseen effects of car accidents is expenses that you never planned on, so it is time to begin recording all costs of the car accident. These may include, payment for doctors or hospital bills, for prescriptions, for car repair and receipts, amount lost from sales and wages, transportation costs, etc. Writing a journal about how the accident has affected your life and ensuring you explain any emotional suffering you are going through will help your lawyer demand compensation that will cover lost wages and other damages.

Protect Yourself and Your Rights after a Crash

Just like savoring the journey to discover a new craft brewery, navigating the aftermath of a car accident requires a calm and methodical approach. After a car accident, it is often hard to remember a sequence of events, however, the knowledge of what to do next can significantly improve the situation. Always protect yourself, report the accident, share contacts, and contact your doctor if necessary. That way you will be safe to sit down with lots of confidence throughout the settlement of the car accident without having to mind your health.