It’s not something you want to think about too often, but it does pay to be prepared. You could be involved in a road accident at any time. Whether you’re walking along the sidewalk, driving in a car, riding a motorcycle or bicycle, you’re at risk. Your first reaction is bound to be panic. You’ll be dazed and not know what to do. Thinking about this kind of situation now means you’ll be better prepared and know what to do should something like this happen.
When you’re involved in an accident, the first thing you have to do is stop. Leaving the scene of an accident means you could be committing an offence. You should never admit responsibility for the accident either. This is something that is written into your legal contract with your car insurance company.
Assess What Has Happened
First, check whether anyone is injured and needs medical attention. Do not move any of the vehicles unless they are causing a problem with other traffic. Even if the accident is relatively minor, you should contact the police as this will ensure there is a legal accident report made. Also call for an ambulance if anyone is injured.
When it comes to talking about the accident, only do this with the police, medical professionals and your insurance representative.
Collect Relevant Information
It can be easy to forget about this when involved in an accident. Certain information will be required if you need to make a claim. This includes names, addresses, and phone numbers of everyone involved, including any witnesses. You’ll also need to get the other driver’s insurance company details and policy number. What type of vehicles were involved in the accident will also be useful, including the license plate details.
It will also be helpful if you can make a note of what happened, where it happened and take photographs or sketch a diagram of the crash scene, if possible.
When you have these details, you should contact your insurance company or their agent. There is usually an emergency phone number you can call. When you contact your insurance company, they will run you through the accident procedure, and how to file a claim.
Making a Claim
If you’re hurt in a car accident and it’s someone else’s fault, you can claim various types of monetary compensation. These include lost wages, medical bills, treatment, pain and suffering, any property damage and amputation legal claims to help with rehabilitation. You will need to seek professional legal advice for these types of claim. With the help of an expert, a satisfactory settlement amount can be negotiated.
It is important that you report the auto accident to your insurance company within 24 hours of it happening. You’ll be required to provide information about the cause of the accident and whether you’re injured. With this information, the insurance company will begin an investigation of your claim. It can be a very complex and time-consuming process, but your legal advisor will be able to guide you through it all.
