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Health & Fitness

What To Do After You’ve Been in a Car Accident

Car accidents—we all try to avoid them while driving, but sometimes they happen anyway. If you ever find yourself in a car accident, you can follow these tips to try to stay as protected as possible:

1) If you are in an accident with another car, try to gather as much information as possible.

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Even if the car accident was not your fault, you should still gather information about the other driver for insurance purposes; it’s better to have more information than needed if you end up needing to get an attorney for your car accident. The DMV requires those in car accidents to file reports sometimes when the damage is even as little as $250, so the information could be necessary by law.

When gathering your information, don’t forget to gather:

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  • Contact and insurance information for all people involved
  • Any witness’s contact information
  • Time and exact location of the accident
  • Detailed vehicle information of all vehicles involved
  • The name of the police officer who reported to your case

2) Take photos of the incident

When it comes to car wrecks, you or your attorney will want detailed evidence of your accident. Here, a picture really is worth a thousand words. You most likely won’t have an actual camera on you after your accident, but your cell phone might be equipped with one. Take multiple shots of the accident from all angles. Don’t forget to capture the detail shots. They could be important if your insurance company requests them or if you end up having to court for the accident.

3) Call around on auto body repairs

If your car requires either minor or serious repairs after your accident, you will probably want the best estimate on the cost of repairs. Whether you will be paying out of pocket or going through your insurance company,  the less the repairs cost, the better.

4) Call a car accident attorney if necessary

Sometimes the damage to the cars—or the people—is too much to be handled out of court. If you think your case may require legal attention, you may need to protect yourself by obtaining a lawyer. If you feel overwhelmed with the proceedings, either with the insurance company or the other parties involved, an attorney who concentrates car wrecks could help you receive justice.

You can learn more about what to do following a car accident by downloading a copy of

What To Do If You Are Injured in a Car Accident.”

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