Panic can easily overwhelm you when you find yourself at the scene of an accident. Either through confusion or misunderstanding, it may be tough to know exactly what steps to take and what information to gather. Keeping calm and following some basic tips can help to make the experience less stressful for both parties.
One of the first actions you should perform is to completely stop your car and exit the vehicle as soon as it is safe enough to do so. According to FindLaw, most hit and runs typically either involve damaged property or an injured party. In any situation with immediate danger, you should make sure to check on all the drivers and anyone else involved in the accident. Staying at or near the site of the accident is the best idea in order to make sure authorities or medical professionals who arrive can find you. Do not try to move anyone who cannot move of their own volition due to pain.
After you have talked with everyone involved in the accident, you should make sure to tell each other your telephone numbers or other personal contact information. Talking to witnesses and anyone else present is another important step. Agreeing on the facts of what happened for each party is important to determine who is at fault, if anyone. One of the last but most important steps you should take is to get in touch with your insurance company in order to alert them of the accident.
Car accidents can be confusing and stressful, but knowing how to handle them can help you protect yourself.
