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Steps to Take After a Motor Vehicle Accident

Goldstein Heslop Steele Clapper Oswalt & Smith Dec. 12, 2021

It’s natural to feel lost and confused after a motor vehicle accident, especially if you’ve never dealt with this situation in the past. For this reason, you may have questions and concerns about what you should and shouldn’t do.

Here are the five most important steps to take after a motor vehicle accident:

  • Move to safety: It’s not always possible, but if you can move your car from the flow of traffic, it enhances your safety, as well as that of other drivers. Adding to this, don’t attempt to get out of your vehicle in close proximity to moving traffic.

  • Call 911: Even if you think you can exchange information with the other driver and drive away from the scene, it’s best to call for help. You may need an ambulance to transport to you the hospital. And you may also want a police officer to inspect the scene, take statements and create a report.

  • Receive medical treatment: Many people make the mistake of turning down medical treatment, just to find later on that they needed it. Some injuries don’t present symptoms right away, so you’ll only find out about it through proper examination by an experienced medical professional.

  • File an insurance claim: As soon as you’re able to do so, file an insurance claim online or by contacting your agent by phone. Before doing so, review your policy for a clear overview of what you’ve been paying for in terms of coverage.

  • Protect your legal rights: For example, if your insurance company attempts to take advantage of you with a low-ball offer, don’t accept it. Just the same, look into other means of obtaining compensation, such as through a personal injury claim.

When you slow down and think about what you’re doing, it’s much easier to take these key steps after a motor vehicle accident. It’s when you get in a hurry that you overlook something of importance, which slows you down and causes additional challenges.

As long as you focus on your health first and your legal rights after that, you’re in the position to deal with the aftermath of an accident in the most efficient manner possible.