Being in an auto accident is never something you look for.
That said you want to make sure you are looking out for yourself at the end of the day.
From your well-being to the condition of your vehicle and more, have your bases covered.
So, what will you do when you have been in an auto accident?
Did You Suffer Any Notable Injuries?
In driving forward following an auto accident, focus on these three keys:
- Any injuries – Your first focus should be on any injuries you suffered. Even when it is a fender-bender, make sure you are okay. When an accident is more serious, chances are medical personnel will end up on the scene. If they do, be sure you get checked out. Some injuries can go unnoticed at first. If no medical personnel come to the scene of the accident, still seek help. If you are able to get to a medical center or hospital, go. You might end up needing a ride if your vehicle is not in good working condition. The key is making sure you are good to go.
- Accident details – Unless a small fender-bender, you want details on the accident. By compiling a vehicle accident report, you are protecting yourself for one thing. You do not want someone accusing you of hitting their vehicle and taking off. You can go online once home or on your smartphone and get info on how to do a vehicle accident report lookup. This involves filing a report with the police and your state’s department of motor vehicles (DMV). If the police did not respond to your accident, you can still go to your local police station and file a report. This prevents you from a scenario where another driver claims you caused things and left. The accident report being on file also helps you when filing a claim with your insurer. Last, it allows for all the details to be in writing. That is as opposed to in your head and you relying on your memory days down the road. Last, if you were the victim of a hit-and-run, do your best to get info on that driver. If you had witnesses to the accident, getting statements from them helps. The same is true if there is any video evidence. You should also proceed with a license plate lookup. Getting the license plate info of the driver’s vehicle can help authorities track them down.
- Analyzing how your vehicle did – Finally, how did your vehicle hold up in the accident? Some vehicles do quite well in keeping their occupants safe. For others, they failed the test. If your vehicle did not do a good job of protecting you, it may be time to think about another make and model.
When you’ve been in an auto accident, do all you can to learn from it and steer clear of any future incidents.
So, how bad was your auto accident?
