A car accident can catch you by surprise almost anywhere, leading to unfortunate injuries and serious car damage. Handling a car accident on vacation is a particularly hard pill to swallow. 

While you always have the facility of car insurance at your disposal, there are a lot of other things, such as notifying the police and calling car accident lawyers, that you have to deal with to ensure you’re completely out of harm’s way. 

Acting shrewdly and quickly right after an accident may not feel possible given your mental state, but it’s something that you have to do to protect your physical and financial assets. 

Here’s a checklist of the things you might need to tick off if you’re involved in a car crash.

• Checking For Injuries

The first and foremost thing is to make sure no one is hurt in the accident. This inspection will include the driver in the other car, and any pedestrians or passersby who were unfortunate enough to be anywhere near the collision’s radius.

Also, if someone doesn’t show symptoms of external injuries, but they’re still acting a bit weird, call 911. An internal injury can sometimes be a silent killer and might require prompt emergency assistance.

• Notifying The Police

Even when an accident doesn’t seem very serious, calling law enforcement is the best course of action. The officers will come to the crash scene and prepare a detailed report of the incident. You will need this report to get an insurance claim, so make sure that you’re accurate and thorough with your description of the events leading to the crash. Ask the officer to hand you a copy of the report for your record and future reference.

• Documenting The Incident

If you’re not incapacitated and can easily walk around, try to document the crash site without wasting time. Here is a list of details you need to keep a record of:

• Snapshots or pictures of the area surrounding the collision
• Damage to the cars involved and their positioning
• Photographs of traffic signs, rocks, lane markings, or anything you think might have led to the accident. 
• Place, date, and time of the accident 
• Direction and speed of your car when the crash occurred

• Exchanging Information

Even if the other drivers insist that they want to resolve things amicably and have no intention of getting their insurance companies involved, the right choice is still to exchange relevant information. Ask for their contact numbers, names, addresses, and names of their insurance companies. Also, pen down the license, model and make of their cars, and make sure they have all this information written down as well. You might also want to have the contact information of anyone who was a witness to the accident. It might come in handy in court sessions or when you’re filing a claim.

• Calling Your Insurance Company

Calling up your insurance company when you’re at the scene of the accident is also a smart move. Make sure the person you get in touch with knows everything you need to accomplish before you can jump to filing a claim. This person, if reliable, will also tell you things you should steer clear of, such as recklessly signing a shady document and admitting guilt. They will also tell you whether collision insurance or some other type of coverage applies to your situation.

• Calling Your Car Accident Lawyer

When an automobile accident happens, the concerned insurance companies are responsible for deciding who’s at fault and what the parties involved owe each other in a financial capacity. While most people decide to settle without taking things to court, you can click this link and see that it’s not always the case. Sometimes, a party may drag the dispute to court, and in such situations, you might need to talk to a reputable car accident lawyer to make sure everything goes smoothly on your front. 

• Keeping An Accident Log

After informing your insurance company and initiating the claims procedure, continue to document and keep an eye on things. If you experienced any physical injuries, it’s best to have your medical reports and bills at your disposal. You might also want to keep receipts for any car damages you pay from your own wallet. And if the insurance company of the opposing party gets in touch with you, make a rough note of their call, and relay it to the car accident attorney who’s spearheading your claim.

Bottom Line

Getting in a car accident can cast a pall on your day, and cause serious financial and physical damage. However, if you take definitive action, document the crash scene, and call your insurance company and your car accident lawyer for assistance, you can take control of the horrible incident and minimize your losses.