Being involved in a minor car accident can be a very stressful experience, but knowing the key steps to take in the immediate aftermath can help you navigate the situation more effectively. Minor car accidents fortunately typically only involve low-speed collisions with little or no injuries, but even these incidents can lead to confusion and frustrations. In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know regarding what steps you need to take after a minor car accident to ensure your safety and protect your interests.
Ensure Everyone is Safe
Your first priority after a minor car accident needs to be ensuring the safety of all parties involved. There are many reasons to hire a lawyer following a car accident, but the first is most often when someone is injured which is why checking safety first is important. Assuming your vehicle is drivable and it is safe to do so, move it to the side of the road right away to prevent further accidents. Turn on your hazards so that you can alert other drivers to the situation as well.
Once you are in a safe spot, check for injuries among everyone involved starting with the people in your own car. If anyone is injured or if there’s significant damage that is obstructing traffic, contact emergency services immediately to get an ambulance. It’s always better to err on the side of caution and have medical professionals assess the situation and give the go-ahead.
Call the Police if Needed
Even in minor accidents, it’s possible contacting the police will be warranted or beneficial. Police can help to document the situation and provide an official report that can be used for insurance claims or in court for legal matters. When deciding whether or not calling the police is necessary, consider the severity of the accident and the extent of any injuries suffered by either party.
Also, if you notice any significant property damage or if one party refuses to cooperate with you, it’s best to contact the authorities. Be sure to provide the police with only accurate and factual information once they arrive, even if you are at fault for the accident, and be sure to cooperate fully with their investigation.
Gather Information From the Crash
After ensuring everyone is safe and contacting the police if necessary, the next best step is to gather information from all parties involved in the accident. The most prominent of this information should include:
Names and Contact Information: Collect full names, phone numbers, and addresses of all drivers and passengers who can act as witnesses
Insurance Details: Record the insurance company names, policy numbers, and contact information for the insurance agents after the crash
Vehicle Information: Note the make, model, year, and license plate numbers of the vehicles involved and take photos
As mentioned, part of the information-gathering stage should be taking photographs of all vehicles involved. This should include any damage to the vehicles, the position of the vehicles, and the environmental conditions next to the vehicles (if property damage occurred). Additionally, if you see any people lingering around after the accident, consider asking them if they saw what occurred and would be willing to share their contact information with you to speak on the incident in court.
Report the Accident to Insurance
Once all necessary information has been gathered from the other parties involved, you should contact your insurance provider promptly to inform them that an accident occurred. Even if you believe the damages to your vehicle or the other vehicle are minor, you should contact them right away. Insurance companies all have specific timeframes for reporting accidents and failing to report yours within this window may impact your ability to make a claim.
When speaking with your insurance company, provide them with all of the collected information you have, including the police report (if provided). Any photographs you have should also be shared with your insurance company. This initial conversation will help your insurer understand the details of what occurred in the accident and the next steps for processing your claim.
Seek Medical Attention
Even if you feel perfectly fine after a minor accident has occurred, it’s wise to seek medical attention from a healthcare professional. Certain injuries such as whiplash, concussions, soft tissue internal injuries, and more may not be readily apparent. By getting checked up on by a medical professional, you can help identify any hidden injuries you may have in order to receive appropriate care.
Be sure to document any medical visits and treatment you receive as this information could be used in court to argue for damages. By keeping thorough records of your health post-accident, you can earn your just compensation.
Gather and Keep Detailed Records
Finally, by maintaining detailed records of information after an accident, you can bring it up in court. It can be easy to lose these details in the aftermath of an accident while you are recovering and while you’re focused on other matters, but it’s essential that you don’t. The scope of this information should include:
- Medical bills and receipts
- Repair estimates for your vehicle
- Correspondence with insurance companies
- Notes from conversations with police and witnesses
Having all of this information organized will be beneficial if any disputes arise or if you need to take further legal action, such as if the accident was caused by another party’s negligence.
Protect yourself following a car accident
Experiencing a car accident, no matter how minor, can be a disorienting and scary experience. Following all of the steps above can help you manage the situation calmly and efficiently, though, so that the matter can be resolved quickly. Ensure everyone is safe, contact the police if necessary, gather all essential information, report the incident, seek medical attention, and keep all records. This will help you to stay both prepared and informed so that you can navigate the aftermath of a minor car accident more effectively, thus protecting your rights and interests.
