Did you know that, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 10.8 million car accidents in the United States every year? Unfortunately, with the ever increasing prevalence of cell phone usage behind the wheel, that statistic is actually set to grow over the coming years. In short, your chances of being in a car accident have never been greater.
Being in a car accident comes brings a number of issues. It’s likely that you’ll have to pay to have your car repaired. Likewise, the chances of you needing to visit a doctor, at least for the symptoms of whiplash, are quite high. What too few people think about until it’s too late are the chances of being hauled into court by car accidents lawyers because the other driver wants to sue you for car accident compensation. While there is never any guarantee that the other driver won’t hire lawyers for car accidents and come after you, there are some things you can do to help protect yourself from that possibility.
Four Tips for the Driver Asking, “What Do You Do After a Car Accident”
- Stay at the Scene
- Move Your Car out of Traffic
- Get All the Important Information
- Don’t Make Deals with the Other Driver
As HowStuffWorks writes, one of the biggest mistakes drivers make after a car accident is fleeing the scene. Not only is this illegal in many states, it will make many people, including judges and policemen, wonder just what it is you felt you had to hide. Stay put and be responsible after an accident. It will be better for you in the long run.
Any list of tips for “what do you do after a car accident” should include ways to get yourself out of harm’s way when something happens. As State Farm Insurance suggests, you can keep yourself safe after an accident by moving your car out of the flow of traffic. If your vehicle is too badly damaged to move, put out flares and a set of cones to improve your visibility to passersby.
For About.com’s Personal Insurance, the number one thing to do after you’ve checked to make sure you’re uninjured is get all the important information from the other driver. You need their license number, their license plate number, cellphone number, address, and their insurance information. If you need to file claims against their insurance or hire your own personal injury lawyer, this information will be essential to finding justice.
As CNN suggests, you shouldn’t ever take a deal from the other driver following an accident. It’s a pretty common story. You get into an accident and the other driver offers you $200 to keep quiet about it. That might seem good in the moment, but how would you know how much your repairs or medical bills are going to cost? To get what you’re owed, avoid this all too common mistake.
Do you work as a personal injury accident lawyer? What advice would you give to drivers to answer the question “what do you do after a car accident?” Let us know in the comments below! References.
