June 1, 2020 |
Car Accidents,
The Barnes Firm |
barnesfirmjing
Even a minor car accident can cause pain and problems for those involved. Minor car accidents, also affectionately called fender benders, are fairly common. These types of car accidents are generally slow-moving collisions that happen in parking lots, driveways, or stop signs in residential areas.
Personal injuries in minor car accidents are less common, except for the stress they may bring. Even so, minor collisions can result in the need for costly repairs for your vehicle. If the car accident wasn’t your fault, you don’t want to pay for those expensive repairs.
Let’s go over some tips to help you know exactly what to do after a minor car accident.
After a Minor Car Accident, Take these Steps
- Determine if anyone is injured – If so, always call first responders and get the necessary medical attention immediately. If you aren’t sure, it’s best to call for help because some injuries aren’t apparent right away.
- Check for signs of damage and potential dangers – Inspect the cars involved in the accident for fire, sparks, smoke, or the smell of gasoline – if noted, have everyone move from the vehicles.
- Move Over – In a minor car accident, with no injuries, move the vehicles from the roadway to a safe location.
- Remain calm – As you speak to the other driver, control your emotions. Don’t admit fault or blame the other driver: exchange phone numbers, email addresses, and insurance information with one another. An easy way to do so is to take pictures with your cellphones of each other’s driver’s licenses and insurance cards. You’ll also want to get contact information from any witnesses.
- Call the police – In doing so will protect those involved, including you. The officer on the scene will prepare a police report from the statements provided as well as the evidence – tire marks, injuries, and damage.
- Take pictures – Photograph the car accident scene, from all angles, including the damage to the vehicles involved. You’ll also want to take photos of skid marks and any evidence which can show you were not at fault.
- Don’t negotiate at the scene of the accident – In other words, make no promises about not calling the police or not filing an insurance claim.
- Never leave the scene – While you wait for the police to arrive, exchange contact information with other drivers. Leaving the scene of the accident before doing so can result in criminal charges, making the results of your minor car accident much worse.
Following Up After Your Car Accident
- Contact the police department that was on the scene to get your copy of the accident report.
- Contact an experienced car accident lawyer to review your case and walk you through the legal process.
- Even if there is no damage to the vehicles involved, you should still contact a car accident lawyer to handle any insurance disputes and other tedious paperwork.
Call on The Barnes Firm for Guidance Following a Minor Car Accident
It is always a good idea to get in touch with expert legal counsel, like the car accident lawyers at The Barnes Firm, especially if you or a loved one were injured in the incident. Our best personal injury and car accident lawyers in California and New York can help manage your case, allowing you to recover the best possible result.
Call on The Barnes Firm at 1-800-8-million (1-800-800-0000) and get the positive outcome you deserve following your car accident.
Tags :
California Car Accident Lawyers , Car Accident Attorneys , Car Accident Lawyers , Car Accident Tips , Minor Car Accidents , New York Car Accident Lawyers , The Barnes Firm
