No matter how careful people are, road accidents are inevitable, and it is best to be prepared when they happen. According to the Annual United States Road Crash Statistics, over 37,000 people die in road crashes each year, and an additional 2.35 million people are injured or disabled. Accidents cause stress and injury to people and damage and loss of property. When these situations occur, what should you do first?
Here are the steps to take when you encounter a road accident.
-
Stop and stay calm.
Nothing good will come out of panic and anxiety. When in an accident, stop and don’t drive away because that would be a criminal offense. Take a deep breath so you can think clearly. Don’t be too emotional so that you can make logical and sound decisions. Use your hazard lights to warn other drivers of the incident.
-
Make sure everyone is safe.
Check for injuries. If you are unsure of the severity of injuries, call 911 for an ambulance. Do not attempt to move people with serious injuries; instead, wait for help.
-
Call the police.
For some minor accidents, in which both parties are unharmed, some jurisdictions may not send the police. However, do file a vehicle accident report at the police station. When there is damage, injury or death, call the police at once. When both parties are having a difficult time talking and exchanging details, the police may also be able to mediate.
-
Swap details.
Here are some of the details you need to swap with the other party involved in the accident.
- Name
- Address
- Phone number
- Plate number
- License number
- Insurance company
- Policy number
-
Contact a towing service company if you need one.
Before you get the services of a towing company, make sure that you remove important things and documents from your car. Decide where your vehicle will be towed and authorize the tow truck driver to tow your car by signing a towing authorization form.
-
Call your insurance company.
Make sure that you know what to say and that you get your facts straight before you contact your insurance company. State the facts, including the date and time of the accident, and narrate what really happened. Make sure you take pictures of the accident. Take pictures of damages no matter how minor it is and take it from different angles.
If you need towing services, contact a reliable and trustworthy towing company to help you with your needs.
Written by the staff of Tiger Towing in Columbia, MO.