6 Steps to take after an auto accident

Nobody wants to get involved in an auto accident. They’re dangerous and costly, but if you do get involved in a wreck it’s important to know some of the basic steps you need to take to make sure that your interests are best looked out for.  These six tips are in no way the only things that need to be done, but following these suggestions can give you a good foundation to keep a bad situation from turning into a terrible situation. If the time ever comes where you find yourself in an accident, never hesitate to call our Dallas insurance agency and we will do whatever we can to assist you.

1) Safely STOP!
Don’t block traffic if at all possible, but even after a minor accident you should move to the side of the road, a parking lot, shoulder or any other are that can keep you, your passengers and other drivers safe.

2) Assess yourself and your passengers for injuries
It’s not uncommon to feel just a little “shaken up” after an auto accident, and you don’t end up realizing that you’re injured until hours or even days later.  This is partially because of the rush of adrenaline running through your body, and you entering survival mode thereby ignoring potential injuries.  Make use that you are not injured first, then check on your passengers.  Assuming everyone else is okay, you can choose to check on the other drivers if necessary.

3) Call 911/Local Police 
Regardless of the gravity of the accident, it’s always in your best interest (especially if someone is injured) to reach out to the authorities.  Firstly because they can provide potentially life saving medical care, but also because having a police report can go a long way in making sure that your claim is handled properly.

4) Take Pictures
Thank goodness for smartphones! After you’ve checked for injuries, moved to a safe space, and notified the authorities it’s time to get your Android or iPhone and snap a number of photos of the accident, including any potential injuries that you or your passengers have. 

5) Exchange information with the other driver.
This is an extremely important step, as not having the correct and accurate information can be the difference in a claim going smoothly or becoming a total nightmare.  Make sure to get the other parties name, address, phone number, drivers license, make, model and license plate number.  Additionally, you can take pictures of these documents as well as taking a picture of their current insurance card (check to make sure that it is current and not expired)

6) Notify your Dallas auto insurance agent as soon as possible!
You pay premiums ever month for your auto insurance in Dallas and hope you never have to use it, but when you’re involved in an accident is when those payments pay off (for a lake of a better phrase).  Notifying your agent is the first step in making sure the claims process is handled in the right way. The team at our Dallas office will talk through the incident with you and provide guidance of next steps so you can make proper and informed decisions on how to proceed.

If the time ever comes that you're in an accident, or want to prepare for if it does, the Lewis Family Insurance Group is prepared to help.  Feel free to give us a call at 972-752-0307 and we can discuss an insurance policy that's best for you!