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Steps to Take After an Auto Accident
If you're involved in automobile accident, there are several steps you can take to insure the following claims process goes smoothly.
July 28, 2011 /Government PR News/ -- Imagine you are driving towards an intersection in your hometown. The light turns green as you approach, and as you cross the intersection--wham!--someone hits you on the passenger side of your car. You are shaken up but it does not seem that you are injured, and you are thankful that you always wear your seatbelt. You wonder if the other driver is okay, even though he should not have run the light.
You wish that you could just get on with your day, but you know that there are several things you must do to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.
First, always stop after a car accident has occurred. If you fail to stop and the other driver is injured or their vehicle is damaged, you could be charged with a "hit and run". After you have stopped, be sure to check and see if there is an immediate danger to you or the passengers in your vehicle, or if anyone in your vehicle is injured. If anyone has been injured, call an ambulance for medical attention.
Your next step should be to call 911 to report the accident and request a police officer to come to the site of the accident. Always report an accident, no matter how minor: A police report is an important tool to have in the event of an insurance claim.
You should also share information with the other driver including your driver's license, registration and proof of insurance; present your information to the officer when he or she arrives as well. Try to be as objective as you can about the event, and if you have a camera, take photos of your vehicle and the scene of the accident, which will be helpful when you file an insurance claim.
Once a law enforcement officer arrives, give your statement of what occurred; the other driver will be asked to do the same. Ask for a copy of the officer's report, then immediately call your insurance company to start the claims process. The company's representative will ask you about the accident, then ask you to mail any documents that may help expedite your claim, including the police report. Depending on the circumstances of the crash, you may also have legal claims for damages sustained in the accident, such as personal injuries, property damage, and, if you suspect a mechanical defect, a lawsuit against the automaker.
If you or a loved one is involved in an auto accident, stay calm, call the police and seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss you legal options and held you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled.
Article provided by The Law Firm of Phillips & Pelly
Visit us at www.sdinjury.com
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