After a car accident, the prudent thing to do is assess the damage. You’ll want to ensure that no one is injured and that no other drivers are at fault. Then, if necessary, call 911 for assistance from authorities. A car accident can be scary, but staying calm and acting in your best interest is important. What do you do after a car crash?
The tips below will help you cope with the aftermath of an auto accident.
1. Check for injuries
If you are injured, seek medical attention as soon as possible. It’s also important to call a friend or family member who can come and help you until the ambulance arrives (if they’re nearby). If your passenger is injured, check their condition and try to get them out of the car as quickly as possible—but be careful with any passengers who have suffered serious injuries because they may be more prone to infection.
Suppose you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident in the Tampa Bay area. In that case, it is important to seek the advice of a qualified Tampa Bay car accident attorney to ensure that your rights are protected and to explore your options for legal recourse.
2. Call the police
In most cases, you’ll need to call 911. Here’s what you should do:
- Give your name, location and vehicle information to the dispatcher. This will help them locate your location and figure out who else might also be involved in the incident! They may even ask for additional details about other parties involved (like their insurance company).
- If someone was injured or killed in the crash, let medical responders know so they can respond appropriately—and if it’s safe enough for them to do so.
3. Take pictures of the accident scene and damage
- Take pictures of the accident scene and damage.
- Take pictures of your vehicle and any other vehicles involved in the accident. These can be used later to prove what happened and help you file a claim against whoever was at fault for causing such damage to your car or truck.
- Take pictures of any injuries you or others have sustained from this incident and their medical records, if applicable (for example, if someone needs to get stitches).
- Record license plate numbers on all vehicles involved—this is important because it will help police identify who was driving at fault when they arrive on the scene later on!
4. Contact your insurance company
- Call your insurance company right away. They may only be able to help you once they’ve gotten all their information and paperwork together, so be patient.
- Tell them what happened in detail, including any injuries sustained by others involved in the accident or damage done to property due to it (for example, broken windows).
- Ask if a tow truck is needed for your vehicle after being hit by another car—this will likely depend on how badly damaged it is; some companies may require proof of insurance coverage before arranging for one to come out immediately, but others won’t require anything at all!
- If there aren’t any damages visible from outside the vehicle itself (like cracked windshields), then no need for an ambulance either—but if anyone else has been injured during this ordeal, then definitely call 911 first thing so that medical professionals can come to assess them properly before deciding whether further treatment is necessary.”
5. Exchange personal and insurance information about other drivers involved
- Ask the other driver for their name, address, phone number and insurance company.
- Ask for the other driver’s license number and insurance card.
- Ask for the other driver’s vehicle registration number.
- You can also ask the other drivers if they have a VIN sticker on their car (the VIN is usually located in front of the windshield)
6. Secure all witnesses’ information
The next step is to secure all witnesses’ information. This includes:
- Contact information for all drivers, including names, addresses and phone numbers. If a driver has an emergency contact number on their license plate or registration card, it’s important to get that to ensure they can be reached in case of an accident.
- Names for passengers in vehicles involved in accidents and also those who may want to give statements about what happened (if applicable).
- Photos or video footage from the scene, if possible—may help investigators identify fault if people were present at the time of impact and injuries sustained by either party involved.
7. Call a personal injury lawyer
Among the first things you do when involved in an accident is to call your personal injury lawyer; click here and get the best. There are several reasons why this is important:
- When you involve a personal injury lawyer, they’ll help you with insurance claims and any legal issues arising from your accident.
- Your lawyer will also assist with any personal injury claims that may arise from the accident—for example, if someone else was driving at fault and caused additional damage to your vehicle or injuries to yourself or others involved in it.
8. If a car accident is unexpected, the aftermath doesn’t have to be!
If you have been injured and sustained damages from the accident, you must contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. They will first ask if any other people were involved in the accident.
They may need to call them so they can also give their testimonies. A good lawyer will also help with insurance issues and filing claims against both parties involved in your case (the driver who hit yours vs his insurance company).
Get medical attention from paramedics or ER doctors at nearby hospitals; this could save lives by helping people breathe easier after injuries sustained during crashes!
9. Move to a safe spot and assess the scene
Once you’ve stopped your car, move away from it as quickly as possible so that pedestrians and other drivers can get by safely. If there’s any sign that someone has been injured in your accident, don’t move them until medical assistance arrives.
Accidents are just part of life. But when it happens, you want to be prepared and know what to do. Taking the above steps can minimize damage and keep you out of trouble with insurance companies or other parties who may want to take advantage of you.
