At a time of uncertainty, panic, fear, and anger, our minds may not think clearly enough to react to a car accident appropriately. We present these steps for our clients - and now make them available to you!
1
Stay Calm, Be Safe
Take a deep breath. Exhale. Just the simple act of controlled breathing can help relieve anxiety in this situation. If it's safe to do so, move the car to the shoulder, median, or side of the road in order to get out of traffic. Turn off the motor and take another breath.
2
Assess for Injuries
Are you or any of your occupants injured? If so, stay in the car. Do not move anyone who is injured. If there are no apparently injuries, step out of the car and assess any other drivers or parties who may be injured. HOWEVER - most car wreck injuries may not appear, or appear minor, immediately due to a surge in adrenaline. Do not mistake "I don't feel injured" with "I am not injured."
3
Alert Emergency Personnel
Dial 911 from a cell phone, or if neither party has cellular service, flag down another driver. In most cases, witnesses at the scene of the accident will stop and ensure all parties are okay. Emergency personnel should ALWAYS be alerted, if only for reports and field diagnoses of all parties. In some cases, insurance companies will not provide any financial support without a police report detailing the accident.
4
Gather Information
Things to gather and share with other drivers:
- Name, address, and contact information for all parties
- License number and registration - including the name of the registered owner of the vehicle
- Insurance policy number for all drivers
- Vehicle descriptions (year, make, model)
- Any immediate injuries at the scene (who is hurt and how?)
5
Create Memories
Though a traumatic moment, it is important to create memories for yourself regarding the accident. Use a cell phone or other digital device to take photos, video, audio of the situation, write notes describing the how the situation happened, result of the accident, the road, weather, and other environmental conditions, date and time of the accident, and any comments made at the scene of the accident by any party.
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