You always think it’ll never happen to you until it does. Car accidents can be disorienting and stressful. It’s one of those things you want to get out of immediately. Having said those, it’s better to know how to deal with accidents in case it happens to you than to be completely clueless.
1. Forget Fleeing The Scene
Who wants to hang around stressful conditions, right? However, you have to remember to wait for the authorities to clear your departure, because they will need information from you. Otherwise you may have to face serious criminal repercussions, especially if there are injured people involved.
2. Never Neglect To Call 911
Don’t assume that there will be no need for authorities when an accident happens, no matter how small it may be. Calling the police is necessary because they file the report of the incident for you, which may help you with insurance claims and the car repair expenses reimbursement. Just remember to list the names and badge numbers of the attending officers.
3. Don’t Assume Aches And Pains Are Just Bruises
Do not downplay any aches or pains that you feel after an accident because you never know what serious injury might be behind that seemingly mild symptom.
4. Try Not To Ignore Others
Yes, you have to look out for yourself first. But once you are certain that you’re not hurt, try to see if the others are okay. Help out if you can. The ability to save another person’s life often comes down to immediate action.
5. Avoid Being Confrontational
Even if it’s really the other party’s fault, being aggressive and confrontation doesn’t help make the situation better. In fact, it can actually make it worse in case you really get into a nasty brawl and assault and battery charges get mixed into the whole ordeal.
6. Don’t Claim Responsibility
Remember the part of the Miranda Rights that police officers say when arresting a suspect? Anything you say can and will be used against you. Even when you know you have some responsibility in the accident, it’s not wise to just claim it right off the bat. So, watch what you say in such tricky situations and wait for the officers to sort those things out.
7. Take Photos For Proof
You never what’s gonna happen, so it’s always best to get solid proof of the situation through taking photos. This way, if someone decides to twists the story of who did what; you have evidence to back up your side of the story. Aside from that, this will also help you when asking for reimbursement for the car repair cost from the other people involved.
8. Never Hand Out Personal Information
Always remember that your personal information is all the swindlers need to scam you. So keep in mind that you can’t just give them to anyone who’s asking, even in an event of accident. You have to be certain that you’re talking to authorities before you give anything.