Whether you're an international visitor or a local driver, car accidents can be shocking and traumatic experiences. But if you know what to do after being in an accident, the experience doesn't have to be nearly as scary or confusing as it might seem at first glance. Here are 10 things you should know if you're involved in a car accident in the USA.
1) Call the Police
Most people don't realize that if you are involved in an accident and someone is hurt, you have to call the police. The police will then help determine who was at fault. They'll take statements from everyone involved and ask them what happened leading up to the accident. Once they've done that, they'll give out tickets for any traffic violations if necessary. If there was an injury or death, they'll also investigate further and can even bring criminal charges against one of the drivers.
2) Take Pictures
It's not uncommon for car accidents to happen. They can happen anywhere, anytime, and often times they are caused by another driver. If you're involved in a car accident in the United States of America, there are several things that you need to know:
-In most states, if you are at fault for an accident (meaning you were speeding or didn't yield), your insurance company will pay for damages. In other cases where both parties are at fault (for example if one party was speeding and the other didn't yield), then each party is responsible for their own damages. In some cases insurance companies will offer up to $50k/$100k of coverage per person under their policy; this varies from state-to-state and depends on your policy.
3) Get Witness Information
1. Call 911 right away. The police or ambulance can tell you if you need to go to the emergency room.
2. Get witness information and contact information from any witnesses who saw what happened or stopped to help after the accident - even if they don't speak English well or don't have identification with them.
3. Write down as much as you can remember about the car that hit yours, including:
- make and model of car
- license plate number (if possible)
- make and model of car's lights (ex: high beams on)
- whether it was a man or woman driving 4. Take photos of your car after an accident (and before you move it) for evidence
4) Go to the Hospital
3. Do not admit fault. No matter how clear-cut and obvious your case may be, it is better for your case not to admit fault or responsibility. As an example of this principle, if you rear-ended another car and caused $5,000 worth of damage to their vehicle, it would be better for you not to say anything about the accident and let them come up with their own conclusions about what happened than for you to say something like I'm sorry I hit your car. In this situation there is no need for you to apologize because you did nothing wrong. The other driver will likely assume that they ran into you because they were paying too much attention to texting on their phone instead of watching where they were going.
5) Do Not Admit Fault
No matter who is at fault for the accident, do not admit it. The onus is on the insurance company to investigate and determine who is at fault. If you admit fault, your insurance premiums will likely increase due to higher risk. You also run the risk of being sued for damages. If you are unsure about who is at fault for an accident but want to report it as such because you are worried about your insurance premiums going up or getting sued by someone involved in the accident--report that there was a car accident and provide basic information:
-What kind of vehicle were you driving?
6) Do Not Sign Anything
Do not sign anything without reviewing it with your own lawyer. In most cases, it is better to wait until after you consult with an attorney before signing anything. Your lawyer will tell you what documents you need and if any of them are okay for you to sign without their review. If they tell you that something needs their review before signing, please wait and make sure they review it before signing on your behalf.
7) Contact an Attorney
Here are ten things you should do after being involved in an accident.
1. Get the other driver's information: Make sure you have their name, address, phone number and license plate number. And if they are uncooperative or refuse to provide any information, you can use your cell phone to take a picture of them and their license plate as proof of their identity. 2. Call the police: It is important that someone investigates an accident as soon as possible - before any evidence is lost or damaged and before anyone leaves the scene of an accident unattended. 3.
8) Do Not Give a Statement to the Other Driver's Insurance Company
It's so important that you don't give any statements to the other driver's insurance company. Insurance companies are in business to make money by paying out as little as possible. They will try and get information from you and if they do you'll likely find yourself settling for less than what your case is worth. If your injuries are severe or if there was significant property damage, then it may be wise for you to have an attorney on your side who can help protect your rights.
9) Be Careful of What You Post on Social Media
When you are involved in an accident on American roads, it is important that you be careful about what you post on social media. In fact, research shows that one out of four people who posts photos of their car after an accident reveals something they weren't supposed to. This can lead to problems with insurance claims and even legal issues. Here are ten things you need to know if you've been in a car accident in America
10) Keep Good Records
1. Get an insurance claim number from your insurance company as soon as possible. 2. Take pictures of damage to all vehicles and property involved. 3. Write down the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses and get their contact information too. 4. If you need medical treatment for injuries sustained during the accident, make sure you get copies of your medical records from the hospital or doctor's office that treated you - this will be helpful if you ever need them later on down the road 5. If anyone was injured or killed during the accident, call 911 immediately 6. Make sure any damaged property is preserved (don't clean up) 7. Have someone take notes about what happened during the accident 8.
