Every year, there are an estimated 6 million car accidents reported in the United States only. Considering how much we drive, it’s not a question of if you’ll get in a crash, but when.
How to Report a Car Accident
If you’re lucky, you’ll get away with just a fender bender. On the other hand, you might be in such a serious accident that you need to replace your car and go to the hospital for your injuries. In any case, you must report the crash in order to obtain the best possible conclusion.
Read on to find out how to report a car accident and what other steps you need to take.
Safety First
Check on everyone before you even consider reporting your car accident. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries, and call 911 immediately if anyone is seriously hurt or anyone who is needed for help.
If everyone’s ok, then move your car to the side if it’s still in drivable condition. This can prevent more accidents from happening as well.
Is your vehicle badly wrecked? Then put your hazard lights on, get everyone out, and go to the side for safety.
Call 911
You might be wondering, “do you call the police after a car accident?” The answer is, “yes!”
Even if you’re in a fender bender, you’ll want to call the police since some states legally require you to do so. For example, a Missouri accident report, officially titled “Motor Vehicle Accident Report Form 1140”, is used by law enforcement to record the accident’s details and is a critical piece of evidence. In Missouri, you must report accidents to the Driver License Bureau if the accident happened less than a year ago, involved an uninsured motorist, caused property damage costing more than $500, or if someone was injured or killed. The report is recorded by the officer who attends the scene. Additionally, this document could be requested by your insurance company to begin filing a claim, and you should ensure you have a copy.
If they aren’t able to come out for some reason, then you’ll want to exchange information with all the involved drivers and witnesses, then go to the nearest police station to fill out an accident report yourself.
Inform Your Insurance Company of the Report
You must provide a car accident report to your insurance company after you got into the car accident. In fact, you should call them right after calling 911 to inform them of the auto crash.
Get Medical Attention
If you’ve been injured, but not seriously, then you should get medical attention after taking care of the above actions. Make sure you save all your medical reports and receipts, as these will help your case.
Consult With an Auto Accident Attorney
Chances are, you’ll run into issues with your insurance claim. So you should consult with an auto accident attorney.
Bring your report and other documents so they have all the information. From there, they can be your advocate and fight against tough situations to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Report a Car Accident Correctly
The next time you’re involved in an auto crash, you know how to report a car accident correctly. Make sure everyone’s safe and sound, call 911, get a police report and hire an auto accident lawyer if necessary. That way, you’ll be fairly compensated for things like auto repairs, injury treatments and medications, and time off of work to heal.
Also read: How To Avoid The Most Common Car Accident Causes
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