How to Handle the Aftermath of an Auto Accident
It’s not a nice thought, but car accidents happen and it’s important to know what to do if you’re involved in one. If you take the right steps immediately after a crash, you can stop a bad situation from getting worse and ensure your insurance in Wellesley Hills, MA is ready to file a claim. For information about claims, open up our Payments & Claims page in a new tab on your browser. For how to handle the aftermath of a car crash, read on.
Check yourself for injuries. If you’re injured, call 911 or ask someone else to do so. Remember that there doesn’t have to be open wounds to be hurt. Whiplash and more can occur and often needs to be checked out. If you’re seriously injured, try not to move. Wait for emergency personnel.
Check on your passengers. As long as you’re not too hurt to move, check on other passengers in your car. If anyone is injured, call emergency services right away.
Get to safety. If you can, move to the side of the road or a sidewalk. If your car is safe to drive and is causing a hazard to other drivers, pull it to the side of the road.
Call 911. Whether the accident is a minor rear-end collision or a major crash, calling the police is important. The responding officers will find out an accident report and document the scene. If the police can’t make it to the scene of the accident, you can visit the nearest police station and complete a report yourself.
Wait for assistance. Turn off your car’s engine and turn on your hazard lights to indicate to others that you have stopped.
Exchange information. Exchange contact information with the other driver(s) involved in the crash. Take down:
- Full name and contact details
- Insurance company and policy number
- Driver’s license and license plate number
- Type, color, and model of the vehicle
- Location of accident
- Time and date of accident
Document the accident. Gather as much information about the crash as possible – but avoid discussing fault when going over the facts with the other driver. Be sure to identify the officers, get a copy of their report, take pictures of the damage to the vehicles, and talk to witnesses. All of this information will help your insurance company reach a resolution as soon as possible.
Call your insurer. You may decide to call your insurer at the scene of the accident so that they can tell you exactly what information they need in order to process the claim.
An accident can leave you feeling fuzzy about what to do next. Fortunately, these steps will help you get all the information you need while taking safety precautions. While it’s never nice to be involved in a car accident, you should have the peace of mind that your reliable insurance company will work fairly for you. Visit the team at CAV Insurance to get started on securing reliable auto insurance for your needs.