What to do after an accident

For many people, today is a travel day so that they can avoid the traffic and chaos that comes with trying to get out of town for a holiday weekend. Among the many headlines ahead of the holiday: gas prices are at a five-year low for this time of year and more than 40 million people across the U.S. are expected to travel at least 50 miles away from home.

With more people on the road, the chances of being in an accident inherently increases. Indeed, people don’t expect to be in a crash, but it is always helpful to be prepared in the event of one. This post will highlight a few things an accident victim should do.

Check on everyone in the accident – If the people you see are conscious, try to move them to a safe place and call to get medical attention. If they are unconscious, be very careful about moving them. The same applies if a person complains of neck or back pain.

Call the authorities – For a simple fender bender, chances are that there may not be a reason to call the police. But for crashes with significant property damage or physical injuries, the police must be called so that a report can be prepared.

Exchange information – It may go without saying that this should be done, but in the heat of the moment, it is easy to forget.

Keep track of medical treatments – It is also critical to keep track of notes, recommendations and treatments authorized by your medical provider. These will be important in establishing a legal basis for damages.