What Should You Do After Getting into an Accident?

It is surprising how many people don't know what to do after they have been involved in an accident. You, of course, know that you are insured and you need to make an accident claim, but you can find that you have no clue about the steps you need to take. If you are one of these people, you are in the right place. This article gives you a simple and straightforward guide on what you should do when you hit another person's car or when you are hit.

Who Is At Fault?

As a driver, once an accident occurs, you may be able to tell who is at fault. However, vehicle insurance companies do not rely on your word to award an accident claim; they need to see physical evidence like pictures and reports, for example, police accident reports.

The person at fault may be unwilling or not quick enough to collect evidence, hence the victim should act fast.

What Do You Do If You Are the Victim?

1. If you were hit, you need to check whether everyone in your car is okay and then get out of the car. 
2. If you can access your lifesavers, place them on the road and turn on your hazard lights if they are still working to warn other drivers.
3. Check the time of the accident and record it; the date is also important.
4. Take out your phone and take many clear images including the number plates of the two vehicles. Ensure you take images that show the damage to both vehicles. If possible, take images that show who is in the wrong. 
5. You might not lack witnesses; therefore, try and get as many as you can. Their statements are required by car insurance companies.
6. Take the insurance details of the driver at fault including their name and contact details. 
7. Contact their insurance company and tell them what happened. Also, contact your insurance company and tell them what happened.
8. If traffic police may not have arrived at the accident site, you can give them a call because their report is also required.

To ensure you do not forget the above things, you can always download an accident checklist and place it in your car. If an accident occurs, you can always pull it out and fill it.

Car Accident Claim

After you have collected the information mentioned above, you can keep one copy, present another to the other driver's insurance company and give the third copy to your insurance company. Let the company review the information to help them determine whether to issue the accident claim or not. Sometimes, you can run into problems; that is why it is wise to include your insurance company even if you were not at fault.

For more information, contact a car accident claims service.