It’s certainly no fun to be involved in a motor vehicle accident, but if you do ever have the misfortune to be in one, try to remain calm and assess your situation. We’ve put together a car accident checklist that you might want to keep in your glove compartment, in the event of an accident. It could help you stay focused by providing a step-by-step guide on what you need to do.
The car accident checklist
It would be natural for you to feel anxious and frightened if you had a car wreck, but should that ever occur this checklist will help you make the right decisions and take the right actions.
1. First, assess your immediate safety. This is the first and most important step you need to take. If there is a risk of further injuring yourself, stay in your car. Do no move if you are injured, as it could injure you further.
2. Check on any passengers who may be with you to assess their situation. If there are injuries, call 911 for the police and an ambulance. Even if there are no apparent injuries, it’s still important that you call the local police so that they can come and assess the situation and write up a police report. You may need this documentation for any future insurance claim.
3. If your car is drivable and it is obstructing traffic, carefully move it out of the way; however, only move it if it is safe to do so.
4. If you are able, exchange information with the other driver(s). Take down their name, driver’s license number, color, make and model of the car, license plate number, and insurance information.
5. Take note of the time and date of the accident, location and weather conditions, as well as the contact information of any witnesses to the accident.
6. If possible, safely take photos of any road debris, skid marks, and the damage done to the cars involved.
7. When the police arrive, they will prepare an accident report. Ask to review it to make sure the information is accurate and thorough. (You’ll want to get a copy of the completed report after it is filed.)
8. Once all the above is complete, call your insurance company to report the accident.
9. If your vehicle needs to be towed, go through your auto club or your insurance company. If the car is towed by another company, be sure to note the name of the tow truck company and the location of their towing yard.
10. Keep receipts of all expenditures related to the accident, including property damage, medical bills, dates of doctor and physical therapy visits, prescription costs, lost wages, mileage to and from doctors, the cost of a car rental and any other related costs.
11. If the car accident was due to someone else’s carelessness and negligence, call a reputable personal injury attorney as soon as possible so that you can be apprised of your rights and receive experienced advice regarding filing a claim for property and/or bodily injury.
It is our sincere hope that you never have to use this car accident checklist, but if you do, it should help you concentrate on what steps to take.
Do be safe out there.
If you have any questions about this article or any other questions related to personal injury law, please call us at 920-725-8464, or toll free at 1-800-529-1552. Our personal injury consultations are always free.
The content of this blog was prepared by Law Offices of DiRenzo & Bomier, LLC for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to solicit business or provide legal advice. Laws differ by jurisdiction, and the information in this blog may not apply to you. You should seek the assistance of an attorney licensed to practice in your state before taking any action. Using this blog site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Law Offices of DiRenzo & Bomier, LLC -client relationships can only be created by written contract.
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