Things that you should know in car accident situation:
a. STOP.
No matter what happened, stop the car immediately. If the car accident is minor, and there are no injuries, it is advice to remove your car from danger and park it where is it safe to do so.
b. Render aid to the extent that you are qualified.
If a person is injured and it is not you, do what you can to stop any bleeding. If you are certified in first aid, you may administer any other aid you see as necessary, but do not move or relocate and injured person. Call an ambulance.
c. Secure the scene and protect the drivers and passengers from further injury.
If the accident occurred in the middle of the road, try to warn other drivers of the obstacle. Always use the warning flashers that come standard with every vehicle. At night, use any sources of light you can to illuminate the area.
d. Call the police.
Always involve local police so that the accident is properly investigated and documented.
e. Write down all the relevant information.
By law, everyone involved in the accident must display identifying information as well as registration and insurance documents. Do not trust yourself to remember the important details – write them down! Make sure you write down the names and addresses of all the drivers, license plate numbers of all cars involved, insurance carriers, the names and addresses of agents and witnesses, and the measurements of all skid marks and distances.
f. Watch your words.
Don’t discuss the accident on-site, and definitely don’t admit fault, even if you think you are completely at fault. These kinds of comments can be used against you inappropriately in court. Discuss the accident only with the investigating police officer, your attorney and your insurance company.
g. Inform your insurance company right away.
The longer you wait, the more problems will arise due to insurance company policies and bureaucracy. Call you insurance company as soon as you’re not in danger.
h. Inform your lawyer right away.
In the event that there are critical injuries or death and before giving any interviews, get a lawyer’s advice. You may need to file a civil claim or face traffic, and the sooner your lawyer knows, the better.
i. File an accident report.
No matter who is at fault, file an accident report so that the incident is properly documented.
j. See your doctor as soon as you can.
Finally, even if you don’t think you were severely injured in the accident, you should see your doctor. Some injuries take some time to become fully apparent, and injuries to the back, for example, can take years to manifest. Make sure that the accident didn’t cause any serious damage to your body, inside or out.