Caught In a Car Accident? Here Are 3 Vital Steps You Should Take After a Crash

Did you know that over 1 million people die in road accidents each year in the USA? Furthermore, 30 to 50 million people are injured or disabled as a result of road accidents? These figures are quite significant. There are many reasons that lead to car accidents, and among the most common are, driving under the influence of alcohol, distracted driving, adverse weather conditions (like rain, snow, and fog), driving over the speed limit, and driving during the night time. Even safe drivers can find themselves caught in a road accident due to the negligence of someone else. Before you go on to choose  The Miller Law Firm to assist you with your legal matters, let's take a look at 3 vital steps everyone should take immediately after a car accident.  

1. Never Leave the Accident Scene

A vital thing to always keep in mind is never to leave the scene of a car accident, even if it is a minor one. There are several reasons why you should obey this rule. First, because a criminal case could be filed against you. During the midst of an accident, you may want to drive away in order to avoid getting caught (if the fault is yours). However, if someone notes down your car plate number, you could be in trouble no matter where you run. Moreover, besides running away from the scene of an accident being illegal, if someone was injured as a result of it, both the judge and jury are most likely to be against you in a trial. Nevertheless, if you yourself were hurt in the accident, make sure to wait for an ambulance instead of speeding away to a hospital. The injury could impair your driving, thereby  leading to a chance for another accident taking place. 

2. Call the Police

A smart move to make when you are a victim of a car accident is to call the police, instead of getting into an altercation with other members of the accident or driving away, you should call for help. One reason for this is because it aids in the formation of a police report. This report will contain important information that includes when, where, and how the accident most probably took place. It will also include the names of the parties involved and other relevant information. This is a credible report that the accident did take place and will come in handy when you wish to file a claim with your insurance company. Second, there is a good chance that an altercation can arise after a vehicle accident occurs. When the police are involved, they will decide who is at fault, and also help prevent further arguments from emerging. 

3. Take Pictures. A lot of Pictures

There is little chance that what you will say about a crash will be taken as credible information without proof. You need to have evidence in order to back up your statements about the scene of the accident. This leads us to our final point - take pictures. Pictures should be taken immediately after a car accident and they serve a fundamental purpose too. First, pictures are an excellent source of evidence that even an insurance company can't refute. Second, pictures provide information as to how the accident may have occurred. Third, pictures taken of personal injuries can assist in giving invaluable evidence if you decide to file for a personal injury lawsuit. However, be sure that when you take pictures following a car accident, you also take pictures of any skid marks on the road and any landmarks to show precisely where the accident has taken place. 

When you have been involved in a road accident, you can be emotionally shaken. Keep these tips in your car so, if an accident happens, you can rely on good advice, and remember to take care of the necessary things.

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