Top 5 Things to Do at the Scene of a Car Accident

Accidents happen everyday, but when it happens to you, you are bound to be a little unsure of what to do at the scene. Here are the top five things you should consider at the scene of your accident.1. Get to a safe place.One thing that always astonishes me is when people who are in accidents leave their cars in the middle of the road. Then, they start walking around the road like that is normal. It is wrong. Get your car off the road if it is safe to do. Safety is the most important thing. Other cars are not paying attention looking for wrecks, so they may not be paying attention and see your cars. Make sure you are safe and can get to a safe location.2. Call 911.Everyone has a cell phone now days. So, if you have one, call 911 immediately. Do not rely on the other driver or assume the police and an ambulance will just show up. Go ahead and give the call them. The other driver may be injured. Sometimes, even though the other driver is responsible for the accident, they suffer more severe injuries. Safety first. Regardless of who is to blame for the accident, call 911 immediately.3. Get information about the other driver. This is so important. You must get the tag number. You must get the insurance information. You must wait for the police to arrive, unless you are leaving by ambulance, of course. If you fail to get the information about the other driver, things will not go well. You will be upset with yourself. You will have less recovery for your injuries. Now, I am not suggesting that if the other driver speeds away you go on a high speed chase to get their info. No. There is no reason to risk being injured or further injured for money.4. Take photos of the scene.This tip is quite different than the others. If you are not injured and in a safe place, then go ahead and start making all of your phone calls. Usually, people call their family, their work, or insurance company. These are all quite normal and reasonable. Now, use that cell phone for yourself. Take some photos of the scene. Is there road construction? Is it dark? Damage to your car? Is there damage to their car? Tire marks?5. Do not let a bad situation get worse. Try not to deviate too much from the above unless it is for safety purposes. Safety is the most important thing after an accident. Think how to keep yourself safe. Think how to keep the other driver safe. If you follow these tips, you will be ahead of the game. Your personal injury lawyer will be able to focus on the damages portion of your car accident case.Free Tip!I went to law school at the New Orleans School of Law in Louisiana. They have a concept their called Lagniappe. This means to get a little something more for free or an unexpected additional gift. So, here is your lagniappe. Seek medical attention after the wreck at the hospital. Your adrenaline is pumping. You may not start to hurt until later, but early treatment can go along way. You will feel better about it in the long run.