What Should I Do If Involved in a Car Accident?

If you frequently travel Texas roads and highways, you know that accidents can happen. Even the safest drivers run the risk of being involved in an accident, which can entail loss of property and bodily injury. While you can’t control the actions of other drivers you can make sure you know what to do if an accident occurs, as illustrated by these tips from Nerdwallet.com.

Contact Law Enforcement

Even in minor accidents it’s a good idea to contact law enforcement. The police report can be very valuable to your insurance company when filing a claim, as it will provide an unbiased version of events. In some states it’s even mandatory that police are called after an accident, no matter however serious damage is.

Get Information

You’ll also want to document the scene of the crash. For instance, taking pictures of any poor conditions or road hazards can help when making an insurance claim. Showing the positioning of the vehicles and the damage that occurred can also be beneficial (especially when claiming the other driver is at fault). Lastly, be sure to take down the contact info of any witnesses at the scene to ensure they can be contacted at a later date.

Seek Out Medical Attention

It’s also a good idea to undergo a medical assessment after an accident just to make sure you’re OK. Injuries like whiplash are common in car accidents and can take a day or two to present. You could also be suffering from a serious injury and not even know it until the physical effects become severe. In this case, it’s better to be evaluated by a doctor to make sure you’re not seriously injured. If you did sustain injuries, you’ll need a medical report to provide to the insurance company handling your case.