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What to do after a car accident

What do I do if I hit a car?


No one wants to be in wreck, but if you are it’s important to know what to do. First, pull over immediately. As soon as both vehicles are stopped, access the situation for injuries. If someone is hurt in the wreck, call 911 immediately. Fire is always a concern in the event of a car cash so make sure the car is in stable condition.

All the details of what happened can be assessed after you make sure everyone is safe after the crash. If the car accident was your fault, the insurance company’s and your state’s policies will determine what happens next, depending on the extent of the damage. However, all of that is secondary to making sure everyone is safe and if emergency services are required, the wreck is reported as soon as possible!


How do I report a wreck?


In the event of a car wreck, you need to report the accident to the police and to your insurance company. Even if emergency services are not required after the car accident, most states require you to call and report the car accident to the police as soon as possible. You can call the local police department and request for an officer to come to the scene to make an official accident report. Exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver after you have made sure you are both safe and uninjured.

Finally, report the accident to your insurance company by communicating with their customer service department. Determining whether or not the car accident was your fault is largely the responsibility of the insurance company based on the evidence collected at the scene and the police report.


What happens if a car accident is my fault?


If a car accident is your fault, it’s important to know what to do to take quick action. No one ever wants to be the cause of a traffic accident, but sometimes it happens, even with the best intentions. The most important thing to do after an accident is stay on the scene of the accident. Not only is it the right thing to do, but there are harsh legal penalties for hit-and-run offenses so make sure you pull over immediately and remain with the car until the police arrive to file a report.

If you’re able, collect evidence and photos of the car damage from the wreck. The more information you can provide, the clearer the situation for the insurance company to sort out. Understand how it will be determined whose fault the wreck was and what that means from a liability perspective, but leave the decision-making to the insurance company.


What do I do after a minor car accident?


In the case of a minor car accident, it’s still important to evaluate everyone for injuries; sometimes it’s not immediately obvious if you sustained some trauma in the moments following the crash. Fender-benders happen and a lot of the time everyone walks away unhurt with their cars’ bumpers scuffed a bit. Move the vehicles off the road as soon as possible because it’s always safer to be away from the road if you’re going to be outside of your vehicle.

As with any wreck, report it to the police and your insurance company as soon as possible. No one wants to be involved in a car accident, but if you are, the most important thing is to ensure the safety of everyone involved and to report accurate information as soon as possible to the police and the car insurance companies.

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