If you get into a car accident on the road, remember to stay calm and treat the situation as professionally as possible. However, every case is different with accidents ranging from mild bumps to life threatening emergencies. Do your best to follow these simple steps to avoid confusion, misunderstanding and frustration that can make the situation that much worse.
- Aid the Wounded: Right after the crash takes places, the first and foremost responsibility of anyone involved is to help the wounded and find out if there are any casualties. Help bring the injured persons to safety and check to see if any of their wounds are critical. Call 911 in case of a serious emergency and ask for an ambulance to receive immediate medical attention.
- Exchange Information: Politely talk to the other motorist involved in the accident and exchange information. This includes contact information such as your name, phone number and home address. It’s crucial to collect one another’s vehicle registration number so you can reference the car when the time comes. You might also want to write down the license plate numbers just to air on the side of caution. Finally, collect each other’s insurance information so any damage to the vehicles can be handled quickly and smoothly.
- Gather Evidence: If your vehicle has been damaged in the aftermath of an accident, it’s important to make sure you’re completely covered. Collect evidence of the scene with your smartphone. Snap a few photos of any damage to the car and the accident to make sure that you have the proof you need to get proper financial reimbursement. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
- Prevent Conflict: Emotions can run high during the aftermath of an accident, but heated arguments and confrontation will just make things worse. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time. Try your best to handle the situation calmly even if you don’t feel personally responsible for what happened. Always remember to never admit liability or sign anything at the scene of the accident. With contact and insurance information in tow, you can handle the details of the accident at another place and time.
- Call the Insurance Company: Finally, call your insurance company the sooner the better. Your insurer can arrange for a tow truck to arrive on the scene or provide you with a safe ride. If you have a question or any feelings of uncertainty, the insurance company can also provide some much-needed advice. Let the professionals handle things for a while.
Call Summit Insurance for the best auto insurance in Scottsdale, Arizona. Summit will always have your back when you need it most.