One second you’re driving, and the next you hear tires screech and feel the jolt of another car hitting yours. Panic sets in fast. Is everyone okay? How bad is the damage? What happens now?
Take a breath. A crash is stressful and confusing, but having a simple plan makes the next hour much easier. Here are seven steps to follow after a car accident.
- Keep calm. It’s easier said than done, but a clear head helps you and everyone around you. Close your eyes and take a few slow, deep breaths to bring your heart rate down and refocus.
- Check for injuries. Look over yourself and your passengers. If anyone needs urgent care, call for an ambulance right away.
- Call 911. Even a minor fender-bender should get a police report so there’s an official record of what happened and the damage. Stay at the scene until the report is complete.
- Collect information. Get names, phone numbers, addresses, insurance details and VINs from the other drivers, along with license plate numbers and contact information for passengers and witnesses.
- Photograph the scene. Use your phone to capture every vehicle involved and, if you can do it safely, a wide shot of the whole scene. If photos aren’t possible, draw a quick sketch.
- Keep the details between you, the police and your insurer. Talking it over with others can blur the facts. Don’t admit fault or accept blame at the scene.
- See a doctor, even if you feel fine. Injuries such as whiplash can take 36 hours or longer to show symptoms, and medical guidance is to be examined as soon as possible after a crash, before symptoms become serious.
Be ready before it happens
Keep a small safety kit in your car: traffic cones or road flares, a flashlight and a first aid kit can all make the minutes after a crash safer.
Need to get checked out after a crash? In Oklahoma City, Accident Care and Treatment Center focuses on auto accident injuries and welcomes walk-ins, so you can be seen the same day. Call (405) 842-3209 or visit AccidentCare.com.