Learn the steps to take from the car accident lawyers at The Musgrove Trial Firm.

Car accidents are incredibly stressful events, and it’s not until you’re involved in one do you realize that you’ve never thought about how to handle the situation. This is why the experienced team at The Musgrove Trial Firm in Norcross, Georgia, has compiled a list of steps to help you during the aftermath of an accident.

Following these steps on how to handle a car accident will also help ensure you have all the information necessary to reduce your risk and support a claim (if you wish to file one).

Move to a Safe Area Following the Car Accident

The very first thing you need to do is to move to a safe space if you can. Avoiding further harm is your main priority, especially with the busy streets in and around Norcross and surrounding cities like Atlanta, Duluth, Johns Creek and Alpharetta. Make sure to pick a place off the side of the road near where the accident occurred; driving too far away might be read as fleeing the scene and could cause further problems. If someone has been gravely injured or you believe their neck or spine may have suffered trauma, do not move them and immediately call 911 for medical assistance.

Get Help After Your Auto Wreck

If necessary, once you’ve moved out of the way of oncoming traffic and other threats, you should call for whatever help you may need. If you weren’t able to move your car completely or at all, call roadside assistance. This could be AAA, or Georgia HERO if you are on one of its serviced freeways.

If you can get to a safe place and discover that you or another person involved in the crash requires medical assistance, do not hesitate to dial 911.

If no medical assistance is needed and the wreck is more than just a scratch on your bumper, call the police. They will let you know if it is necessary for an officer to be on the scene.

Gather Information at the Accident Scene

The next step is to compile as much information as possible. You want to make sure that once you leave the scene of the accident, you can answer any and all questions your insurance company or a lawyer might have for you. This is your best hope in both defending yourself and filing a charge against your insurance company or another motorist.

The information you’ll need includes:

• Names and contact information of everyone involved, including passengers
• License plate numbers
• Insurance information
• Makes and models of vehicles
• Contact information for any eyewitnesses
• Location of the accident
• Name and badge number of police officers involved

You may be shaken up after an accident, but it’s better to gather this information at the scene rather than waiting until later.

Document Everything

Once you’ve gathered all this information, make sure to thoroughly document the crash and exactly what happened. It’s fine if you’ve moved your car from the middle of the road where the accident occurred; getting out of harm’s way is more important than photographing the damage.

Many insurance companies have apps with features that allow you to submit photos and guide you through what parts of your car to photograph. If you’re not sure if your insurance company does this, or if you know for a fact that they don’t, take pictures of all angles of your car to cover any damage you see and any you might have missed. This will also help if the cause of the accident is disputed.

File an Auto Accident Claim

If you haven’t already filed a claim with your insurance company when you took photos, do so now. Alerting your insurance company in a timely fashion after an accident is important. This will help get the ball rolling on getting your damages assessed, getting your car repaired, and getting your life back to normal. Your insurance card will have all the contact information you need to file your claim.

Call The Musgrove Trial Firm in Norcross, Georgia About a Car Accident Case

If you have been injured in a car accident that led to injuries or even death for any person or persons in the vehicle, and you were not at fault for the accident, bring your case to The Musgrove Trial Firm. Call (678) 226-1994 or fill out the online contact form to set up a free consultation at our Norcross office.