If you have been in an accident – or if you would like to be prepared in case you ever get in an accident – there are several steps you need to take both at the time of the accident and afterward.
At the Scene of the Accident
There are several steps you should take right after the accident has happened. In the heat of the moment, it is easy to be distraught or upset with the other person or persons involved, but taking these steps will set you up for safety afterward.
- NEVER say the accident was your fault. If you admit fault, then the other party can hold that against you and try to make a claim even if they were clearly the reason for the accident.
- Write the license plate number down somewhere. Get any contact numbers and names, and get their insurance information if possible. If they resist giving you any information, you can at least copy the license plate number and trace them through that. Do not leave the scene without any information, or the other driver will disappear.
- Take pictures of both vehicles. The photos, if taken on a phone, should have a timestamp that can be used in the future to verify the amount of damage.
After the Accident
As soon as you get a chance, you need to contact your insurance company, send the photographs and information you gathered, and explain what happened. If you believe it was your fault, you can be honest with your insurer. If it was the other party’s fault, discussing what happened with your insurer will allow them to begin taking action to compensate you. If you are injured, have a doctor look at you that same day or the next. Keep a record of your appointment.
If you were not able to get the driver’s insurance, it is important that you make a claim to your personal insurance company. If the accident was not your fault, you may not even need to speak to your company, though it can always help for them to have a record of what happened.
Do not personally repair your car. If you do that, you may spend too much on the repair and not be able to receive full compensation. If the accident was not your fault, wait while your insurance company sends someone to get an estimate. They can then work with the other driver’s insurance to make sure you are compensated.
If the other driver does not have insurance, you may run into problems. This is where contracting ukclaimlawyers.co.uk to help you will greatly improve your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve. Contact them if the accident was not your fault, if the other person does not have insurance, or if you were badly injured. In each situation, they can help you recover the money you spent or will need to spend.
Follow these steps on the day of the accident and after the accident to claim your injuries and have your car repaired without a problem.