Getting into a car accident is something that no one expects and that few want to think about, but it's best to know what actions to take in case it ever happens to you. See our step-by-step guide, which details what you should do after you've been in an accident.
AFTER THE HIT
- Focus on your breathing and stay calm; try not to panic.
- Check yourself for injuries and turn on your hazard lights before exiting your car. If the accident occurred while on a roadway, move your car out of traffic if it's still drivable.
- Check to see if the other party involved has been hurt.
- Call police to the scene and file a report. However, the case will be considered low priority if no one is injured, so the police may not be able to make it in a timely manner. In this case, you may also choose to file a report online with the DMV.
- Get contact information from the other party, including name, phone number, insurance company name and policy number, license plate number, and type of vehicle (year, make and model).
- Write down damages and location of the accident.
- Take photos of the vehicle damage on both cars, as well as photos of the entire scene.
- Do not verbally blame the other driver or admit fault; this is up to the police officer and insurance company to decide based on information about the incident.
- See if there are any eyewitnesses and try to get their information.
DEALING WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY
Whether the accident was your fault or not, you'll want to contact your insurance company to make them aware of the situation. Why call your insurer if the accident wasn't your fault?
- First, there is no guarantee that the other party will follow through with contacting their own insurance company, so it's always best to get your insurer in the loop.
- If your car is out of commission and you're covered for a rental, contacting your insurance company is the fastest way to get your rental car situation taken care of right away.
- Finally, if the other party's insurance doesn't cover all necessary costs for your car or injuries, you'll need to file a claim with your own insurer.
GETTING COLLISION REPAIR
If your car is in need of body work due to an accident, Richardson Body Shop can assist you in getting your vehicle in shape. Richardson Body Shop works with all major insurance companies and the shop's staff will work directly with your insurance company on your behalf, dealing with any paperwork and communications.
INJURIES THAT SHOW UP DOWN THE ROAD
After you've gotten everything squared away, you'll probably just want to forgot about what happened, but there are a few things to make sure you keep an eye out for. At the time of your accident you may have felt just fine, but it's common for symptoms to occur days later. Often this is because the body is in a state of shock that can cause endorphins and adrenaline to rise, chemicals which mask pain. Here are a few common accident-related injuries and symptoms that could appear after the day of a collision.
- Back pain due to muscle injury, vertebrae damage or injury to the nerves
- Stiffness or pain in the shoulder or neck area due to whiplash
- Another common symptom of whiplash is numbness in the hands or arms
- Traumatic brain injury which may present itself with symptoms such as memory loss, blurred vision, irritability, impaired thinking and more
- Concussions which may present themselves with symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, memory issues or nausea
