It can be confusing and disorientating to be involved in a motor vehicle accident. Being proactively prepared to respond to such an event can help to know what to do or say when involved in an accident.
Aside from things that one should not do (such as apologizing to the other party involved in the accident), there are things that one should do after a wreck. These are some basic tips to help make sure that your rights are protected:
3 things everybody should remember after a wreck
There are 3 key things that one should remember to do after an accident:
- Call the police: The police will usually arrive within minutes and will take down information from both drivers. Make sure that they get your name, phone number, home address, work address, email address and more. They may also assign fault to the other driver and issue a ticket — which can assist you with a claim for damages.
- Keep a journal about your injuries: You want to document everything about your injuries and medical treatment in a journal or spreadsheet. Keep copies of all the documentation that is given to you by your doctors as well as any medical bills, receipts or anything else related to treatment that you might need to get reimbursed for your car accident recovery expenses.
- Take photos and gather other documentation: If you have a cell phone with camera capabilities, take pictures of the damage to your vehicle. It is also a good idea to take pictures of your injuries, as well. If there were witnesses to the wreck, make sure that you get their contact information.
When you’ve suffered injuries and losses due to another driver’s mistakes, you owe it to yourself to obtain fair compensation. A claim against their insurance may be the place to start.
