A car accident is one of the most serious accidents that can happen. Not only do injuries result, but the financial damage can be significant. In some cases, the injuries can be life-threatening. If you or a loved one is involved in a crash, you should contact the police immediately for help. Depending on your state, you may need to file a report with the police. The police report will contain important information that you will need later in the claims process. This report will also provide you with crucial information on your potential legal case.
After an accident, you should not drive the vehicle away from the scene. You should take photographs of the accident and the damage to your vehicle. You can use these photographs as evidence in your case, if you decide to sue. These photographs can also be used to resolve any disputes that may arise with the other party. Having a photo of the other driver’s license plate can also be useful.
Make sure to gather the other driver’s insurance information. Ask for his or her policy number and photograph the insurance card. Once you have this information, call the insurance company. Your insurance company will have the right to deny your coverage if you do not file a claim at a certain time.
Take pictures of all sides of the vehicles. Use a camera with a zoom lens. Also take photos of the debris and the skid marks. Try to give your photographs a sense of scale. When taking pictures, make sure to include the other driver’s license plate, the other cars, and any other relevant details. You should also consider taking pictures of the road, the traffic signals, and anything else that may have been a part of the crash.
If you are unable to take pictures of the other car’s license plate, you can still obtain its information. The other party may be able to provide a license plate, address, or phone number. However, they may not want to provide these details. Nevertheless, they can help the police do a thorough investigation and they can be a witness to the accident.
If you have injured yourself in the crash, go to the hospital as soon as possible. Symptoms of whiplash and traumatic brain injury may not appear until several days after the accident. If you do not feel unwell after the crash, you should still seek medical care. Alternatively, you can focus on the position of your car relative to the other vehicles and any visible damage.
If you have children in the car, check their safety. Children in cars are at risk of hidden injuries. Ensure that your children are buckled into their seats. It is recommended that you keep hazard lights on for added safety.
If you are in a minor accident, you can get the other party’s insurance information by asking the officer on duty for the accident report. Some police departments are now making this process easier by transitioning to online reporting.
