So you’ve been in a car crash. Now what?
It’s easy to fall into a state of shock when you get in a car accident, but there are things of varying degrees of urgency that you need to take care of. For that reason, and as long as you’re healthy, you need to have your wits about you.
Since it’s important to be prepared, we’re going to tell you exactly what you should do after a car accident, should it ever happen.
Move to Safety
Immediately after the crash occurs, you’ll want to get your car out of the way of traffic to prevent any further damage from occurring. As long as it’s still running, pull your car over to the shoulder of the highway or onto a side street and stop it.
Stop Your Vehicle and Check on Others Involved
Once you’ve got the car somewhere safe, turn it off and collect yourself. A lot of times, injuries aren’t obvious right away, so pat yourself down and check yourself out in your rear view mirror to make sure you’re okay.
If everything looks alright, you can get out and check on the person or people in the other car to ensure that they’re not hurt.
Notify Authorities
Call the appropriate authorities. If an ambulance is needed, call for one, but usually you’d just put in a call to the police. When the accident appears bad enough, the police, fire brigade, and an ambulance will likely all show up.
For minor accidents, the fire brigade will come for precaution and then leave you with the police to file the accident report with the other party.
Get Information and Document What Happened
You should always obtain the necessary information from the other party as well. You’ll need the driver and any passenger names, license plate numbers, the make and model of both vehicles, insurance information, contact info of eyewitnesses, and the names of the responding police officers.
If you think of it, it’s always good to have pictures from the scene of the accident when you’re filing your insurance claim. Then, you can get your car towed to a mechanic or auto body shop.
See a Doctor
You should always see a doctor regardless. Even if you’re feeling completely fine, lasting injuries can crop up down the road that might have an effect on your quality of life and ability to work. This would be important information for your insurance claim.
Make an Insurance Claim
You may want to talk to your insurer while you’re at the scene of the accident, just to find out what they want you to do. You can start the claims process right away and add details later.
Be Calm After a Car Crash
Following these tips will help you remain calm after a car crash. At the end of the day, as long as everyone involved is healthy and safe, you can take care of the fallout afterward.
To receive expert collision repair, contact Limerick Auto Body. We’ll pick up your car from the scene of the accident, then give you an inspection and an estimate. While we’re repairing your vehicle, we’ll arrange a rental for you and call your insurance company with the necessary info.
We take auto collision repair seriously; that’s why we like to go the extra mile to make sure you’re comforted in the aftermath of this stressful event.