5 things to do after a car accident

A car accident can ruin your entire day. Besides the inconveniences of missing a job or a crucial appointment, you also have to deal with damage to your car, liability issues, possible traffic infractions and even injuries in some unfortunate cases.

Most drivers are likely to be involved in a car accident at least once in their lives. In this article we are going to tell you 5 things you should do after a car accident .

Do not leave the scene

Let's say you are involved in an accident but the damage is minor. Nobody seems to be hurt at first sight. So it's all good to go your way, right?

Not really. Regardless of whether an accident looks serious, you always have to stop, see the other person involved, exchange insurance information and report it to the police. If you do not, you have committed a crime.

In some countries, walking away after an accident could lead to a charge for not providing help. It is a misdemeanor but if someone is injured or killed it could be elevated to a serious crime. In addition, if someone is injured you are required to provide assistance, including transportation to a hospital if necessary.

In this article we tell you how to act after a traffic accident.

To call the police

Some of us believe that if nobody was injured in an accident it is not necessary to call the police and report the accident. This is really a very bad idea and here's why.

Let's say that with the other driver they make a kind of "gentlemen's agreement" for the insurance companies to handle things but agree not to report the accident to the police. Even if the other driver seems to be verbal, how do you know your insurance is up to date? Or how do you know that the driver has no active arrest warrants? If you do not receive a police report documenting your accident, what evidence do you have that it has even happened?

Also, someone may be in need of medical attention so it never hurts to call and report what happened.

Do not lose your calm

A car accident is never a pleasant experience. Despite this, it is never a good idea to lose your cool especially with the other driver. When you are dealing with the other driver, the first thing to do is ask: "Are you okay?" Do not start blaming him or shouting at him because you're not going to fix anything and you do not do anybody any good. Take a few deep breaths and keep calm .

Here is another thing you should not do at the scene of an accident: tell people that it was your fault. If you do this, you legally admit responsibility for the accident, which could leave you exposed to a lawsuit or other sanctions. You just have to be there, make sure everyone is safe, be polite but protect yourself at the same time.

Do not forget the proper documentation

Do not forget to document properly what happened and get the other driver's insurance information. Try to clear your mind and find out exactly what happened. What were you doing right before the accident? What street were you in and what direction were you heading? When was the other driver entering into your vision?

You will need to be very lucid to give the information to the police and the insurance. In general, you will have to obtain the name of the other driver, address, name of the insurance company and policy number. Take note of the make, model and color of the vehicle you drive. Do not forget to write the license plate number of the other vehicle as well.

Was there any witness? If so, you need their names and phone numbers. If you have a camera, take some pictures of the accident site. All this is useful during the claims process below.

Address the consequences

While the car accident is probably traumatic and quite difficult, often the hardest part comes later. It is important to keep track of everything that needs to be addressed. This can sometimes include receiving legal and medical advice.

First of all, have you been injured in the accident? Have you had pain or persistent health problems in the past? If so, you need to see a doctor immediately. You may also want to contact a lawyer if you think you are facing large medical expenses. And if another driver is threatening to take legal action against you, you will probably have to get a lawyer.

Make sure you register your insurance claim quickly. Many insurance companies have time limits to file the claim. It is better to know what your own insurance covers ahead of time.