It’s a sunny weekend morning, and you decide to indulge your love for art and nature. You grab the wheel of the ’66 Cadillac you’ve spent years restoring, and take a leisurely drive towards the famous “Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks”. And as you’re about to turn on the radio — BAM! You lunge forward as a speeding sedan hits the back of your car.
At this point, you’re probably startled and infuriated from the accident. You might even be thinking of suing the driver right away for the damage caused to your beloved vehicle. But before you even decide to contact your car crash lawyer in Kent, try and keep your cool and remember these five crucial steps:
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Check for Injuries
Check yourself (and your passengers, if you have any) for injuries. Examine your body for any cuts or bruises, and be wary of any pain. Don’t take any risks; with the adrenaline rushing, you might think the pain is manageable and be tempted to get out of your car and check the damage, but neck injuries are quite common in minor collisions and may even prove debilitating and extremely painful if handled incorrectly. If there’s any sign of pain or injury, call 911 or ask someone to do it for you. In this case, make sure to keep track of your medical treatment and expenses.
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Move to a Safe Place
Once you’re certain that you’re uninjured, move your vehicle to the side of the road. The other car involved should do so, as well. Contrary to belief, leaving the cars right where the accident occurred is a bad move. In accordance to Quick Clearance Laws, drivers are involved in a minor crash are mandated to move the vehicles off the road if it is operable and can be moved safely. This would help prevent another accident and allow emergency vehicles access to the area. Don’t forget to turn off your engines afterwards.
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Keep Calm
Tensions are high, and you’re justifiably angry right about now, but breathe. Your cars may only have suffered some damage, and you wouldn’t need to watch out for sparks, but your current situation with the other driver(s) may still be volatile. Be civilized and reasonable, don’t put out any threats, and avoid roadside negotiations promising not to pursue insurance claims or agree to not have the police involved. If the police officers aren’t there already, call 911.
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Information Exchange and Documentation
Now that you’ve ensured your health and safety, and collected yourself, it’s time to focus on the next task. Exchange information with the other driver (or drivers, if more than one is involved), particularly the name, address, phone number, license number, and insurance information.
Take photos of BOTH vehicle, and the scene of accident. Take note of the names and badges of the police officers, and a copy of the official report as well. These will help you out in case of insurance claims disputes.
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Coordinate with the Police, Inform Your Insurance
The police officers are there for your safety and would mitigate any future accidents or prevent any hostilities in the area. The responding officers will also fill out an accident report which you can use for your insurance claim. In, by any chance, the police can’t come to the scene, you can go to the nearest police station and fill out the collision report there. After that, promptly inform your insurance company regarding the accident.
So now that you’ve safely and calmly managed your fender bender, you can start checking for other options. Perhaps it’s time to hire that car accident lawyer in Kent and file a claim for the damages done to your cherished Cadillac.
