After you’re involved in a car accident, you’ll probably be thinking about 100 different things. You’ll be worrying about yourself, your vehicle and running the crash through your mind over and over again. You’ll be focused on calling for help and assisting those who need it.
After a crash, many people experience at least some level of shock. The body is full of adrenaline, which puts you into fight or flight mode. As a result, you may not be thinking clearly or taking steps to do what you should to prepare to make a claim later.
If you are in an automobile crash, the first thing you need to do is to stop your vehicle. If anyone was injured, you can attempt to help that person. Call 911 and wait for the emergency medical team to arrive.
Depending on your health following the crash, you may want to take photos of the vehicles and the scene of the crash. Collect the other person’s insurance information, name and other identifying information if you are able to do so.
Once the police arrive, it’s a good idea to talk to them about what happened. Don’t suggest that you may have been to blame, just explain what happened plainly. For example, “I was entering the intersection and the vehicle hit me from the left.” Keep what you say factual. It’s up to the police to determine who was at fault. After you do this, it’s time to call your insurance company and attorney; they’ll need to begin negotiations to help you get the compensation you need.
Source: FindLaw, “Your Nashville Car Accident: The Basics,” accessed Sep. 04, 2017
