The First 8 Things to do After an Auto Accident

Auto accidents are a fact of life and knowing what to do when you are involved in one is critical. Of course, doing anything at all assumes that you are physically and mentally able to do so. If you are not, you will have to rely on emergency personnel and family or friends to step in and act on your behalf – perhaps sharing the information in this post with those close to you will help prepare them in the tragic event that they will need to act to protect your interests.

If you are in an accident and are able to act, do the following in order if you can:

1. Call 911 and make sure that first responders are contacted and that everyone involved is receiving appropriate medical care.
2. Do what you can to make sure that involved vehicles are not posing a hazard to those involved in the accident or others.
3. Work with police or other investigators to make sure they have all critical information concerning the accident and that it is accurate.
4. Make sure that you have accurate contact and insurance information for all involved in the accident.
5. Contact your insurance agent immediately and pass along all relevant information to initiate the claims process.
6. Do NOT communicate with representatives of anyone else involved in the accident without first speaking with your insurance agent or those authorized by your insurance company to assist you.
7. Follow through on all medical care prescribed until your care plan has been completed.
8. Consult with a qualified attorney if you have significant physical or economic injuries as a result of the accident to make sure you protect your rights.

As the saying goes, accidents happen. Just make sure you are prepared if you are involved in one.