The moment you realize that you have been in a car accident, it’s important to take measures to protect yourself. You should call the police and try to find out if anyone was injured. If someone is bleeding, you should offer them a clean cloth for their wound. If there are any hazards on the scene of the crash, like jagged glass or spilled chemicals, then it would be best not to touch them-call 911 instead so that they can send people with protective gear who know how to deal with these types of emergencies. 

Finally, stay calm and make sure that all passengers are safe before you leave the scene of the accident. The more prepared you are ahead of time for what might happen after a car accident happens will help reduce the amount of stress you feel during a time that is already nerve-wracking.

1. What to do after a car accident 

It is necessary to have a plan beforehand for what to do in the event of a car accident. One of the first steps you should take is to call for emergency assistance. Notify the authorities and stay at the scene until they arrive. All experts around the country and even professionals at Craig, Kelley & Faultless agree on one thing: it is important to try and remain calm so that you can help others out if possible. You will want to provide any injured parties with clean cloths and cover wounds if necessary, but under no circumstances should you attempt to offer any assistance with hazardous materials. The last thing that you want is to get hurt while trying to help someone else.

2. Stay calm and protect passengers first 

In the event that your car accident has just taken place, it’s important to remain calm. If you’re not already in a safe environment, try to find one before doing anything else, if not, ask a bystander for help. You should also take care of passengers in the vehicle before going after any other tasks. Even if your child is crying and asking about their toy five minutes ago, you need to take care of his safety first so he doesn’t injure himself any further.

3. Notify the authorities

When you’re ready, call 911. If there is already an accident report on file (which is likely), another car accident won’t change much, especially if it wasn’t your fault, but having more information could save time and stop confusion about what should happen next. This process will vary based on which state you live in, so be sure to look up their specific guidelines.

4. Make a mental list of the damages

Without touching your car at all, quickly go over what happened and take a mental note of everything you saw that was damaged, this includes cars involved as well as objects/buildings/etc. If you have a camera on your phone, take a picture of everything. If you do not live in a state where car insurance is required, it might be a good idea to keep track of damages mentally because you will have to pay out-of-pocket for any repairs.

5. Get everyone checked out by medical professionals

Even if there are no visible injuries from the car accident, it’s still a good idea to get checked out by a doctor or at least ensure you and your passengers are not experiencing any pain. It might only take some ibuprofen to get back the regular range of motion in your neck, but there could be an underlying problem that needs attention and if this is likely, getting medical help could save you a bigger headache later on.

6. Make sure you’re alright yourself

Even if no one is hurt, no matter how lightly, it’s important to not forget about your own well-being after the accident. Take your time to feel the different areas of your body and make sure everything still works as it should-opting for a pain-free life is far better than the alternative.

7. Examine your car and take photos

After everyone has been checked out, it’s recommended to look over your vehicle again-this time more closely. Take note of larger damages as well as small things you might have missed before, such as airbag burn or a broken taillight. Once you have your mental checklist and the vehicle in front of you, take several photos from all angles so that they can be easily referenced later on.

8. Exchange personal information with others involved

It’s not unheard of for car accidents to leave out even more people than just those directly involved, if this is the case for you, try to talk with others and exchange contact information. There might be someone else who needs medical attention so it’s important now more than ever to update your insurance companies as soon as possible.

After a car accident, you need to call the authorities and give them as much information as possible. You should also take pictures of your vehicle from all angles so that it’s easier for someone else (like an insurance company) to assess damages later on. The last thing you want is to get hurt while trying to help someone else, it might seem like common sense but this is something we’ve seen happen more than once in our line of work! If you’re not sure what steps are necessary after a car accident or if there was any damage involved with yours, don’t hesitate to consult with professionals or even take first-aid courses!