The actions you take immediately after a car accident can significantly impact your safety, legal rights and any insurance claims. You need to make sure that you protect yourself and that you have all the protocols in place to give you the best chance of recovering your vehicle and receiving compensation. You also need to have a replacement vehicle readily available for yourself, so you don’t miss out on any aspect of day-to-day life. Not taking any action can result in you missing out on finances, which can have a negative impact on your life.
This guide will give you guidance on what you should do immediately after a car accident, especially if you’re the victim of someone else’s negligence. Continue reading to find out more on how to keep yourself safe and get compensation you deserve.
Actions to Take After Car Accident
Move the Safety
Check yourself and your passengers for injuries as soon as the accident happens, as safety should be your number one priority. Make sure to dial emergency services if anyone requires medical attention, as the sooner you react to this and get them seen by professionals, the better they have of getting their injuries seen properly. If your vehicle is still functional and posing a hazard to traffic, carefully move it out of the way to prevent further accidents.
Contact Authorities
Contacting the authorities is essential, as you need to get an unbiased account from the police when dealing with insurance claims. Call the police immediately, so they can attend the scene as soon as possible. While waiting for help to arrive, don’t argue with the other driver, as this can escalate things further.
Exchange Information
Make sure to exchange the following information with the other driver:
- Full name and contact details.
- Insurance company and policy number.
- License plate number and vehicle make/model.
These will give you the better chance of a successful claim if the accident was due to their negligence. Don’t apologise or admit fault in the situation, as this can reduce your chances of a successful compensation claim, especially if the other driver is recording the interaction.
Document Everything
Use your phone to capture photographs of the scene. It gives you the chance to get close up images of any damages to your vehicle, along with any pictures of the area for more context. If you are missing some information, it could lead to unsuccessful claims as you don’t have everything you need to prove it wasn’t your fault.
Start Credit Hire Claim
Credit hire solicitors can support you in accessing a replacement vehicle, so you can still continue with your day-to-day life. Bond Turner can help you to recover the charges of the hire vehicle too, which prevents you from significant financial losses. They have been at the forefront of the changes to the law in this area, routinely dealing with appeals in the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Credit Hire Claims give you the perfect coverage you need if you were in a traffic collision that wasn’t your fault.