Each year, there are over 300,000 car accidents in Georgia alone. These accidents damage both property and people. What if one of those accidents involves you in 2019? What should you do in the immediate aftermath?
These six steps will keep you safe and preserve the data you need for a personal injury claim, should you choose to file one.
- Stop and pull over on the side of the road, out of traffic. No matter how minor the accident seems, you should never leave the scene. It’s vital to ensure that everyone involved is alright and that you exchange appropriate information so that all parties can repair their property.
- Call the police. You should report your accident to the authorities as it is required by many insurance agencies. If possible, do not move the vehicles and keep the scene intact until the police arrive.
- Report accurately. Give your statement and provide all the details you can about what happened. Do not guess; if you’re unsure of something, say so.
- Take pictures. Snap a photo with your phone of the damage to your vehicle and the scene. This evidence is helpful when it comes to filing a claim for insurance or a personal injury claim.
- Exchange information with the other driver(s). You will need this information to repair your vehicle and to file any other type of claim. Get the details of their insurance and the make and model of their car as well as their contact information.
- Seek medical attention. Even if you seem fine, minor injuries can take awhile to surface. You should get yourself checked out after a trauma like a motor vehicle accident.
If you are involved in an accident, be sure to take the steps you need to protect yourself and your ability to recover physical, medical or emotional damages.
