Car accidents are common but still jarring or downright traumatic for New Jersey drivers. While no one wants to get into a car accident, being prepared is still important.
First steps after getting into a car accident
Before anything else, you’ll want to ensure everyone is okay – including yourself. You should be able to move without anything hurting. Consider if you’ve hit your head or not, as that might cause a delay in processing other injuries.
If you feel like you were injured in the accident, stay still (if it’s safe to remain in the car) and call 911 to receive medical attention. If you’re okay and feel safe, you should also check if anyone in the other cars was injured.
You may be required to assist the injured while waiting for an ambulance. Everything else can wait if a person has been injured. Just turn your car off and turn your hazard lights on while waiting for the police to arrive.
Steps to take if no one was hurt
You should still call 911 anyway to file a police report. Your insurance will require a police report to give you any assistance after a car accident.
As you wait for the police to get there, you should exchange insurance information with the other driver (or drivers) involved in the accident. You’ll also need to document every detail of the crash.
This includes taking photos and writing down anything you remember. You may want to get the contact information of any witnesses, just in case you need it later.
Contacting your insurance
After you’re home, you want to contact your insurance company to file a claim. You’ll want to give them a thorough rundown of the accident and provide all of the documentation you took earlier.
If you need medical attention, it’s essential to document all of that as well. You may have to contact the other driver’s insurance as well. The insurance payout may take some time to get to your bank account, but it’s important to be persistent and get professional help if you need it.