Each year, 1.35 million people worldwide are killed in road accidents.
A car accident can be very scary, and they’re often completely unpredictable. Regardless of the precautions you take, sometimes accidents are unavoidable. After a car accident, however, you’ll be in control of what to do.
In this guide, we’ll go over the 5 steps to take after a car accident in Boston.
1. Stay Calm and Check for Injuries
Despite how frightening a car accident can be, you should do your best to stay calm. Check that everyone in the car is safe and uninjured.
Car accident injuries can be quite severe, so you need to be aware if any have occurred. If another vehicle is involved, check on the driver and passengers of that car too.
2. Move Impacted Vehicles Out of Traffic
Depending on how bad the accident is, you might not be able to move your vehicle. If you can, and if it’s safe to do so, you should move it off of the road so that other vehicles can still get past. Turn your hazard lights on as a precaution.
3. Call the Police to Report the Accident
Call 911 and inform them of what happened. They’ll send the police, as well as an ambulance or the fire service if necessary. When they arrive, provide the police with your license and insurance information.
In a car accident case, you may need to answer some questions that the police will put into their report. Stick to the facts and keep things simple. You should also request a copy of the report as you might need to give it to your insurance company.
4. Exchange Info and Take Pictures
Police reports should always be accurate, but you should still take pictures of your own. Make sure you document any damage to your own car as well as any others involved. These can be very helpful in a car accident lawsuit to help with any disputes.
Exchange your information with the other driver, including:
- Name
- Address
- Contact number
- Insurance information
If possible, you should also exchange details about the vehicles (make and model) as well as the license plate numbers. All of these can make things much easier if you need to hire an attorney and file a lawsuit. It can also be beneficial to get contact details from any witnesses.
5. Start the Claims Process
Even if you’re not at fault, you should still inform your insurance company of the accident. You’ll have a choice of whether to file a claim through the at-fault driver’s insurance, or your own. An insurer will typically be able to start a claim with some basic information, and any pictures you can provide will help.
Taking Action After a Car Accident
After a car accident, make sure you follow the steps above as best you can. If there’s any issue resolving the accident, you might need to hire a car accident lawyer.
Michael Kelly is a Boston-based personal injury lawyer that can help you out in the event of a car accident as well as various other personal injury cases. Visit our car accident lawyer page to see how we can help you if you’ve been in an accident.
