A car accident is never expected. When you are a part of a car accident, there are certain things that you need to do to make sure your rights are protected. The very first thing that you would need to do is to stop after getting into an accident. If you are thinking of running away from the accident scene, you are giving away your only way to stick with your rights.
Even if you know that there is no damage taken or given, it is important to stop the car. Then again, don’t apologize right away. This will show that you are taking all the blame upon yourself voluntarily.
If you have a car, that means you have car insurance. In the car insurance policy, it is mentioned that the policy will stand only if you do not take responsibility for the accident. Hence, your apologizing will nullify the car insurance policy.
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What To Do At The Scene Of A Car Accident?
You need to be careful while driving so that you do not fall victim to any car accident. However, once you are a part of the car accident, you need to prepare yourself with the question that needs to be answered to claim your car insurance. The best way to claim your car insurance policy will be to hire a Los Angeles car accident lawyer. They are professionals in handling this kind of work.
Here is a checklist that will help you with the things needed to be taken care of after the car accident.
1. Determine The Extent Of Damage Caused By The Accident
When a car accident happens, it is better to stop your car to see the damage’s extent. If possible, do not move your car from the position. Let the police take the things from over here. Doing unnecessary things will only make the car accident more complex.
2. Protect The Scene
A car accident scene can be quite confusing for the third parties and can even give rise to new accidents. So it is better to flare or barricade the accident scene to make people aware of the accident. In the case of a night accident, you need to have a flashlight at your disposal to signal nearby cars about the accident.
3. Contact Police
It doesn’t matter how big or small the accident is or how much damage you have accrued. It is always best to call the police. It is important to have a legal report at your disposal. This report might be helpful while filing a claim for car insurance.
4. Get The Facts About Your Car Accident
This part is one of the most important things that almost every person knows. However, amidst all confusion, they tend to forget. It is important to get the names, addresses, and contact info of every person related to the car accident. You can even add a description of the car and its number.
5. Take Pictures
Today smartphones have become quite common. If possible, you can take pictures of the damage you have accrued in the car accident. You can even take pictures of people involved in the accident, picture of the car, and number plate. However, make sure that you are not interrupting the police investigation.
6. Report The Accident
Report your insurance policy about the car accident. There are insurance policies that prefer immediate reports. So make sure that you can report them back as soon as possible. There are certain medical claims as well that your policy might cover. However, being late with the report might backfire at you and nullify those claims.
7. Seek Medical Attention
Car accidents can sometimes be brutal, so no matter how big or small your wound is, take immediate medical attention. In an accident with minor injuries, you can sustain long term spinal cord injuries. If you have suffered a loss of consciousness for even a couple of seconds, that means you have suffered a concussion. If left untreated, it can leave permanent damage.
Protect Your Rights
Perhaps the most important thing you can do after a car accident is to consult an attorney. Your attorney can protect you from false claims and make sure that the valuable evidence is not destroyed. Your attorney can also help you with your insurance claims and ensure that you get the best medical treatment.
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