What to Do When You Come Up on a Car Accident by Law?
It is very important to keep a few important items in your car when you are driving. These include your medical records, your car insurance, emergency flares, and a first aid kit. Keeping these items in your vehicle will ensure that you can assist an injured driver or pedestrian should the need arise.
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One of the most important things you can do is call 9-1-1. While you’re on the phone, you’ll need to get the location of the accident, the name of the driver, and what the situation is. The dispatcher will also need to know whether people are bleeding, what number of people need assistance, and where the nearest on-ramp or milepost is.
You should also record the most important information about the crash, and the best way to do this is to take pictures of the scene. Not only will these provide a glimpse into what happened, but they may help in a later claims process. Take photos of the cars involved, skid marks, the road, and the traffic signals. Also be sure to write down the time and date of the incident, as well as the location of the wreck.
Some states require drivers to call 911, but there are many other ways you can report the incident. In addition to calling the number, you can also make a statement to the police, which will help to document your findings. Be careful not to make any statements that might be detrimental to your case, such as claiming you were in a car accident when you were not.
The other important thing you can do in the event of a collision is to offer assistance to other drivers. This can be as simple as turning on hazard lights, setting up warning triangles, and removing objects from the roadway. For larger accidents, you may need to call the local authorities.
There are a few other things you can do to ensure the best possible outcome. One of these is to carry an emergency kit, which contains items like flares, a first aid kit, and some essentials for an uninjured passenger. Make sure your seatbelts are fastened and don’t move an injured person from the car. If the driver is uninjured, you can ask the police to come to the scene.
To be a responsible driver, you should have a checklist of all of the relevant information on hand. Carrying this out can save you a great deal of trouble later, as you can provide evidence of your involvement in a crash without having to worry about being caught in a legal dispute. Once you’ve recorded all of the appropriate information, you can file a report. Many states have laws that allow up to 72 hours to file a report, which can be helpful in a later claim filing process.
While it’s not mandatory, you might want to consider carrying the oh-so-familiar orange cone. This will give you the best possible view of the crash site, and it will allow other drivers to see you. However, you should keep in mind that it is illegal to remove a vehicle from the scene of an accident in some states.