Unfortunately, car accidents happen very often. The majority of accidents result in minor or major losses or damages to the car, and some may even lead to fatal injuries or deaths. Even if you are a very cautious driver, there is no guarantee that those driving around you play by the rules.
This may get you unfairly involved in an accident, which would be time-consuming and financially costly, and may even compromise your health. Since car accidents are very sudden and can leave you shocked shortly after, we are here to tell you what you need to do when involved in a car crash.
Stay at the Crash Scene
Even if it is a minor accident, do not drive away. However, since the accident can cause street traffic, and may pose a potential hazard to anyone unknowingly approaching at a high speed, you need to alert the other drivers by keeping your flashers on.
You should make sure that you are not physically hurt, and even if you are not, there is a huge chance that your car won’t be in the best shape for you to drive it home. If nothing major happened to you or your car, but you are still recovering from the shock of the accident, it is also best to call someone to drive you home or keep you company while proceeding with the following steps.
Call the Police
It is important to call the police if either major or minor accidents occur. This is necessary because your insurance company will most likely require a police report to file a claim, even if it’s just a damage claim. For instance, all insurance companies in Ontario require you to report any car accident that exceeds damage of a certain financial value.
In the case of car crashes, the involved parties should stay exactly where the accidents happened because it will allow the police to properly assess the situation. You should explain to them exactly what happened, without leaving out or making up any details. Only state sure facts, and if they ask about something that you are unsure of, make it clear that you are not very sure.
You also need to make sure that the other party or parties are saying exactly what happened, if they make false statements, be sure to correct them. You should also take pictures of any physical damages that have occurred to you or your car to support your insurance claim after the police are done with the investigation.
Request Contact Information
Make sure that you request the contact information of the other vehicle owner before they leave the crash scene. You will need their contact information because this way your attorney or insurance company can contact them later on. You also need to make sure that you get the police report number because you will need it to request a status update and obtain the police report.
Seek Medical Attention
Sometimes, the damages that result from car crashes are not visually apparent. Unless you are very sure that you are not hurt, you should get a medical checkup after the accident. Sometimes, minor pains that you think are just normal aftermaths of the collision, can be a part of a bigger issue.
Contact Your Insurance Company
You should file your insurance claim to the insurance company as soon as possible for the damage claims, in order to reduce or eliminate the financial costs of repair. If you have suffered any medical issues that are related to the accident, you should provide your insurance company with the medical bills.
This will come in handy if your insurance plan includes medical coverage. Once the files are issued and reviewed, you will be dealt with by a private health insurer.
Keep All the Records
It is important that you maintain a record of everything that happened from the moment of the crash. You should keep a file that contains the police report number, the police report itself, the photos that you took of the damages that occurred to the car, and pictures of any physical injuries (if any) that resulted from the crash, the other vehicle owner’s contact information, your claim number, the claim’s adjuster, and any other expenses that you had to cover as a result of the car accident.
Appoint an Attorney
Consult an attorney and show them the file that includes all the records that you have collected. The attorney will use each bit of evidence to your advantage in order to get you the highest amount of compensation. You must appoint an attorney for consultation before the insurance company collects your statement.
Car crashes can have dreadful consequences. They may result in lofty financial costs and can be extremely time-consuming. They also get in the way of our daily routines and our abilities to complete certain tasks because our health may be compromised, or at the very least, our method of transportation is damaged. If you get in a car crash and do not know what to do, make sure to follow all the previous steps to properly deal with the situation.
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