Car accidents are scary. And because everything happens so fast, they can be a little overwhelming at times too. Suddenly you have vehicle repairs and insurance claims to deal with, on top of accident reports, and oh yeah-somewhere in there you're probably going to want to see a doctor and get yourself checked out. And you may need to call in a personal injury lawyer to help you negotiate a settlement after your car accident if the other driver's refusing to hold up to their end of the bargain.
That's a lot to deal with when all you want to do is crawl back into bed and pretend the day never happened. Since ignoring a car accident isn't an option (not a good one, anyway) it's important to know what to do.
There's going to be a lot happening at once after your accident, so it's hard to say where you should start. If you're able, your first priority should be calling the police and 911 (or whatever local emergency number your county uses, since many rural areas don't have 911 service) to get the help you need. When emergency crews arrive on the scene they'll be able to evaluate the situation and figure out where you should go next.
If you were injured in the car accident the first thing you're going to need to do is seek medical attention. You'll probably be taken to the nearest emergency room by ambulance. The police will take care of having your car towed, and they'll visit you in the hospital to get the details and file an accident report as soon as possible after the doctor is through with you.
Assuming things are fine, and you don't need immediate attention, you'll probably fill out an accident report on the car accident on the scene. (You're probably still going to want to be checked out by a doctor, just in case, and sooner rather than later. The EMTs will recommend you visit the ER; if you don't want to do that, see your family physician as soon as possible the next day.) You can also give the police any towing resource information you have (AAA, insurance emergency roadside assistance, etc) and they'll make arrangements for you to have your vehicle towed under your plan.
As soon as possible, notify your insurance company. They like to know these things within 24 hours of a car accident, if possible, so they can file the proper claims. If the accident was the result of someone else's poor driving habits they're going to be the ones to pay for damages to your car. They are also responsible for your injuries and the expenses that go along with them, so if you've been injured you're also going to want to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to get the ball rolling on your compensation suit.
The small details that can make or break a car accident case can fade over time, so it's a good idea to contact an attorney as quickly as possible while the details are still fresh. Your personal injury attorney will help you get the compensation you deserve to concentrate on your recovery, get back on your feet and get your life back to normal as quickly as possible.
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