If someone is unconscious or has neck pain, moving them may cause serious harm. Leave them in place until medical personnel arrives, unless leaving them in place would endanger them (i. e. they are lying in traffic, their car is on fire, etc. ).
Stay on the phone with the police until they arrive or instruct you to hang up. Many 911 operators can provide safety instructions. [7] X Research source Ask that a police report be filed. This report will help when filing insurance claims and in the event of a lawsuit. In some states, police will only file a report if injuries are involved. In this case, file a state vehicle accident report, available at police stations or on the Department of Motor Vehicles website. [8] X Research source Obtain the name and badge numbers of the police who arrive, in case your insurance agent or lawyer needs to contact them.
However, if you smell gas, get out of your car right away. This could signal a fuel leak that could lead to a fire or explosion. [11] X Research source
Be polite, but do not apologize. If you say, “I’m so sorry I hit you,” you may be admitting legal liability for the accident. Try not to admit guilt unnecessarily like this, as it may not be clear who was at fault in the immediate aftermath. Be wary of identity theft. Criminals sometimes stage fender-benders in order to obtain the information needed to steal another motorist’s identity. Never give out your social security number or let another driver take a picture of your driver’s license. For safety reasons, don’t provide your home address, either.
The other driver may suggest not filing claims in the event of a small accident, as filing a claim will raise your rates. However, it is always a good idea to file a claim to protect yourself. The other driver may later change his mind and file a claim, even claiming injuries that weren’t apparent at the time of the accident. You want to be sure your insurance company has your version of the accident as soon as possible. [15] X Research source
Insurance companies are always employing attorneys to help save them money. In case they tell you that you do not need an attorney, you will know they’re lying to you. They are trying to make you feel guilty for retaining counsel. Some injuries – particularly back and neck ones caused by whiplash – might not show up or reach their maximum level of pain until weeks or even months after the accident. Every insurance company uses the tactic delay, deny, defend to minimize the value of the victim’s injuries for as little as possible. This tactic has proven to work against people who do not have a personal injury attorney and has helped insurers save a lot of money for decades.
