How to steer clear of post-accident headaches with these auto accident tips

When you hear the phrase “car accident,” you probably conjure the same image in your head every time. While there can be numerous car accidents that are relatively similar, every accident is a bit different from one another. Yet, despite all of these differences, an astounding three million people are injured in car accidents in the U.S. each year. The other similarity that spans the majority of accidents is what to do after. Whether you’re a novice or veteran driver, you may be asking what to do after a car accident. Here are a few simple steps you should always remember.

Pull over
If you can, move your car from the traffic lane to somewhere off the side of the road. Of course, if you’ve suffered an auto injury then this step may not apply to you. However, if you’re able to, you should get both cars out of traffic and ensure that everyone is okay. If the accident is severe or either party has suffered an injury, you should call the police right away.

Trade information
Even if the damage isn’t severe and both drivers are unharmed, you should still trade contact and insurance information. You may not feel that it is necessary to contact the police but you should almost always trade contact info. That way, the insurance companies can figure out who is responsible for paying the damages. A good tip to remember though is that if the other driver is at fault for the accident, having a police record stating such can be beneficial in getting the insurance company to pay out.

Take photos
Another great way to help you get the most from your insurance company is to take as many photos of the incident as possible. You want to give the insurance company a full image of what happened, particularly if you’re not at fault. You can also get witness statements as well, which can be equally useful in proving your case.

The last step in what to do after a car accident is to contact a car accident law firm. They can help you file your car accident claim and get everything back to normal.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident and need to file a claim, give us a call today.