What To Do After An Accident

Each year, thousands of people are involved in motor vehicle accidents and sustain serious injuries. For many, it is a new experience and they are uncertain what to do or how to react. Even if you do not experience immediate pain and require ambulance service, you are likely to feel symptoms of high anxiety and a feeling of shock following the accident. Despite feeling stunned and uneasy, it is important to keep as calm as possible.

Drivers should always carry a cell phone in their vehicle, as well as a camera and a paper and pen for recording information. In Washington State, liability insurance is mandatory and a driver should always keep their insurance information in their vehicle. Drivers should be aware of what their auto insurance covers. For example, with towing and rental car coverage, a driver can be reimbursed more quickly for towing expenses and/or rental car expenses.

Call the police to report the accident if one or more persons are injured, if a vehicle has to be towed, or if the damage to a vehicle is more than $500. Vehicle repairs are expensive and what appears to be a minor dent can cost thousands of dollars to fix.

If you are in a car that cannot be moved, hazard lights should be on, and drivers and passengers should remain in the vehicle with seatbelts fastened until help arrives. If you involved in a collision where injuries are not initially reported and it is safe to move your vehicle, move your vehicle to the side of the roadway.

After the accident, exchange your name, address phone number, insurance company, policy number, driver’s license number, and license plate number with the driver of the other vehicle(s). You should verify that the insurance effective date is still current and the driver’s name matches what is on the insurance card. You should never say you were at fault in the accident, even if you think you were at fault for the accident. The police officer will speak to the parties involved, and issue any citations for violations based on the reported facts and observations made.

While not the be all end all of culpability a motor vehicle accident, police reports are helpful for determining fault and should be obtained for any personal injury claim. While insurance companies are not bound to the report in terms of liability, a favorable report will likely speed up the processing of your claim. If you have a camera or cell phone with a camera, you should take pictures at the accident scene to help document the damage and circumstances of the accident. If the police do not respond to your accident, you should still file a Washington state vehicle accident report, which can be obtained at police stations.

After the accident, you should promptly seek medical attention if needed. The insurance companies involved while likely want to speak to you shortly after the accident to obtain your version of the facts and any reported injuries. Be very careful what you say as it may be used against you. If for example, you give a statement indicating you have no injuries from the accident, and then a few days or weeks later you develop pain symptoms requiring medical treatment, they may deny your claim based on your statement. You should consult with a personal injury attorney prior to giving a recorded statement.

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