What To Do After A Road Traffic Accident
When it comes to driving a car, you need to be careful with what you are doing when on the road. As it is, there are enough accidents happening every year. Over six million car accidents to be exact happen each year.
Fortunately, in most of these accidents, the only damage that happens is property damage. Although this is the case most of the time, some people still do get hurt in car accidents and may need the help of a lawyer such as Davis, Saperstein, and Salomon, P.C. When you need their help, they will be there, However, it still helps to know what you should do right after a road traffic accident.
Stop and Protect the Scene
The very first thing you have to do when in a car accident, if you are not hurt, is to stop your vehicle from moving any further. The absolute worst thing you can do is leave the scene of an accident. Stop the car and protect the scene. Protecting the scene means putting out road flares or at least turning your flashers on so other vehicles know to drive around you. Make sure you have a flashlight as well to keep with you while you wait in your stopped car.
Call the Police and Make an Accurate Statement for Them
After making sure no one in the car is hurt and after stopping the vehicle and protecting the scene of the accident, you need to call the police and report it. Even if you or no one else is harmed in any way because of the car accident, you still need to report it to the police. Once they get there, they will have you make a statement with them. Be honest and tell them everything. Don’t leave anything that happened out.
Take Pictures of Everything
You will want to take pictures of your car and the other car that was involved in the accident with you. Doing this can save you a lot of trouble in the long run, especially if the other person involved in the car accident decides to take you to court. Taking pictures is also good to show your lawyers, Davis, Saperstein, and Salomon, P.C, who will make copies of them for their records. They will help you in court by representing you if it comes down to them suing you for property damages.
Exchange Information
You will also need to exchange information with the other driver. This information includes your insurance, your name and phone number, and your address. The police usually gathers this information when they show up. However, if they have not shown up yet or are not coming at all, which they should be called no matter what, you should exchange information with the other driver.
Other Things You Should Do
You will also need to let your insurance company know about the accident you were in. Many insurance policies require their customers to report the accident right away and give their full cooperation to them. You need to tell them everything that happened.
If you are hurt, you need to go to the hospital. Let the investigating police officer know you have been hurt in the accident and they will have an ambulance come to the scene to check you over and maybe even take you to the hospital.
Make sure you also keep a file of everything that happened for insurance purposes and in case the other person decides to take you to court over this. Also, you should know that you have rights and you need to protect them by obtaining a lawyer such as the offices of Davis, Saperstein, and Salomon, P.C.