Getting into a car accident is a regrettable circumstance. The best-case scenario is that no one is hurt, and your car faces minimal damage, while the worst-case scenario could mean fatalities or totalling your car. No matter the situation, there’s a checklist to go through once you suffer a car collision.
For your help, we’ve prepared a checklist of things you need to do after getting into a car accident. Going through our list should help you take the necessary steps to tackle the situation.
1. Keep Calm and Check For Injuries
After suffering a collision, the first thing one should do is calm their breathing and assess the situation and your surroundings. Check your body for injuries and try to exit the car. If it is not possible or dangerous to exit the car, then ensure that you’re buckled in safely until help arrives.
If your injuries are severe, attempt whatever first aid you can while in the car. This is why it’s good to have a first aid box within reach of the driver’s seat in your car. Remember not to pull out anything lodged into your body, as that could cause excessive bleeding.
2. Call 911
Whether there is minimal damage or severe physical and financial damage, ensure that you call 911 to report the accident and ask for help. The operator will ask you questions about what happened and where you are. Try your best to give correct and concise answers because that will ensure help gets to you fast.
3. Move Your Car Out of Traffic
If your car can move, do your best to move it out of traffic. That way, you do not disturb the flow of traffic. It’s not just about being polite; at night, when there is low visibility, you run the risk of your car suffering another collision because of oncoming traffic.
4. Put Your Hazard Lights On
If you cannot move your car, it’s unsafe to move it, or you can’t get out, then turn on the hazard lights of your car. This will let oncoming traffic know that there’s something wrong, and they will drive around you or stop to help.
5. Exchange Information With the Other Driver
For insurance purposes, you must swap information with the other driver. Get the basics, like their name, address, and phone number. Then, ensure you get their driver’s license, insurance company, insurance policy number, and license plate number. If your phone survived the accident, you can take pictures of it.
6. Go To the Hospital
Once help has arrived, even if you think you’re all alright, you should visit the ER. There could be internal injuries or head trauma simply from the jerk of the collision. To avoid missing anything that could grow into a serious issue, a visit to the hospital is essential even after a basic check-up by paramedics.
7. Contact Your Insurance Company
Before taking your car for repair, be sure to contact your insurance company. Let them know about the accident and find out the particulars. If you have special collision insurance, be sure you are aware of the policies involved.
8. Take Your Car For Collision Repair
Collision repair is the last but one of the most important steps on our checklist of things to do once you’ve gotten into a car accident. Just as you must take care of your physical and mental well-being, your car needs care as well. Collisions lead to damage internally and externally, so go to experts for comprehensive care.