What to Do Following an Auto Accident

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 5,419,000 vehicle

crashes in 2010. Even though auto accidents are common, many drivers are uncertain what to

do following a car crash. There are a few things you can do after involvement in an auto

accident to reduce your risk for injury, prevent further injury to the people involved, decrease

damage to your car, and improve your chances of a good outcome in traffic court.

Stay calm. Take a deep breath. Assess your physical condition and the health of your

passengers before getting out of the car. Look out each window for oncoming traffic before you

open the door – the car may be positioned in a dangerous place in the roadway. This can cause

an unexpected hazard for other drivers and increases the risk for another accident.

Move the people and cars to safety. Drivers may legally move cars involved in fender benders

to the side of the road. Staying to the side of the road increases safety and prevents traffic jams.

Call 911 if anyone is injured. Err on the side of safety. Call for an ambulance if someone is

unconscious, obviously injured, or is acting unusual, even if they refuse help.

When it comes to determining fault, it’s best to let a professional, such as a personal injury

attorney, make that determination. Unseen circumstances may have played a role in the

accident. Rather than focusing on who caused the accident, ensure that everyone involved in

the accident is taken care of.

Exchange personal information with the other driver, including name, address, and phone

number; you may even ask for his email address. Write down the make, model, and year of the

car along with its license plate number. Request the name of his insurance carrier and write

down his policy number. Do not ask for or give out your social security number as it is never

needed in the investigation of an auto accident.

Ask the law enforcement officer investigating the accident for her name, badge number or ID,

and a police report number. An accident report is usually available within a few days after the

accident; request a copy before your court date. The officer’s opinion and information on the

accident report may come in handy if a dispute arises as to who is to blame.

Take photos if you can. Include pictures of damage to your car, the other vehicle, the accident

location, and people involved in the incident. If weather is a factor, snap photos that depict

adverse conditions that could have affected visibility or traction.

If you do not have a paper and pen when exchanging information, download the Azizi Personal

Injury Free Accident App to your smartphone. The app can guide you through what to do

following an accident, as well as put you in touch with a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who

specializes exclusively in accident and injury cases to ensure the laws of California work for

you.

Knowing what to do following an accident can save lives and prevent a permanent blemish on

your driving record. Keep your head and move everyone to safety. Gather accurate information

from the right sources. With a little organization and some help from the best legal minds in your

area, you can survive even the chaos that follows an auto accident.