Following a car accident, there are a few steps that you should always take to protect yourself as much as possible. Firstly, you should always stop if you are involved in an accident on the road, even if it is a minor fender bender, as you are legally obliged to do so. Even if you are lucky enough to get away without any damage to your own vehicle or the other, it’s important to stop your vehicle if you collide with anything.
At the Scene
Detroit MI Auto Accident Attorneys do not advise admitting fault at the scene of the accident even if you know that you caused the collusion. Your insurance company adjuster will investigate and determine who was at fault. There are several further things that you should do at the scene of the accident, including asking questions to any other parties involved to make your claim. Some of the main things do to after being involved in a car accident include:
1. Assess the Damage and/or Injury
The first thing to do after an accident is check to see if anybody needs urgent medical care, and call an ambulance if needed. Try not to move the cars from where they are unless you are able to and they are causing major traffic problems. Wherever possible, wait for the police to arrive before you move any vehicles.
2. Report to the Police
Even if you are involved in a minor accident, it’s important to ensure that a legal accident report is filed. While the police might not always be able to show up – especially if it’s just a fender bender with no real damage sustained – if they do, you will be asked to fill out a police report of the accident.
3. Get Evidence
Ask anybody who witnessed the collision to provide you with their names and contact numbers, since they may be useful to you in the future when it comes to making your claim and proving fault. It is also worth asking any other drivers who have stopped at the scene if they have dashcam footage that they could send you of the collision. Be sure to record the details of the other car and driver including the car’s vehicle identification number (VIIN) if you can and insurance details for the other driver.
4. Limit Talking About the Collision
At the scene, limit talking about the accident to the other people involved and make sure that you do not admit fault or liability. Even saying sorry to the other driver could be taken as you admitting fault at the scene, so be very careful with what you say – especially if it’s not clear how the collision was caused or whose fault it is. Only speak about the accident in detail with the police, your insurance company, and any first responders on the scene.
While most good drivers take care to avoid being involved in a collision, they can sometimes be out of our control. Knowing what steps to take at the scene of an accident can help you get the best results from your future claim.