It can be scary to be in any sort of crash, even if it’s just a minor car accident. It can leave you feeling rattled and panicky, and it can be hard to know what steps to take afterwards. The most important thing is to prioritize safety. Check for injuries for yourself and anybody else involved in the accident and make sure that you are in a safe place. Report the accident to the police, even if it’s just a minor bump-up. Next, you’ll need to prepare for the next steps. For example, you might need to make an insurance claim or seek compensation for injuries. Contacting an accident attorney like Paul Kaushal with Kaushal, Law LLC should be one of the first steps you take after suffering an accident to ensure that your rights are protected.
Check for Injuries
After suffering a minor car accident, it’s important to check for injuries to yourself or any passengers with you. If anybody has pain related to their back, spine, or neck, do not move them. Instead, call for emergency services and stay as still as possible until help arrives. Similarly, if you are able, check for injuries in any other drivers involved in the accident. If you are not able to safely get out of your car, stay put until help arrives. You don’t want to create further damage by trying to climb out of your car or by moving a spinal injury.
Get to Safety
As long as everybody is relatively uninjured after a minor car accident, the next step is to ensure that you’re all safely out of harm’s way. If your accident is on a road that is not very busy, set out traffic cones and leave your cars as they are. It’s best if you can avoid moving your vehicles. However, if they’re creating a hazardous situation to other drivers, you’ll want to move them to the side of the road.
Report the Accident
It’s best to report any collision to the police, even a minor car accident. Relatively small crashes can still lead to substantial injuries and car damage. So, it’s best to have an official report of the accident for insurance and legal purposes. Not only that, but it’s the law in Indiana that accidents need to be reported in almost all instances. If there are any injuries, deaths, or property damage above $1000, you could be charged with a misdemeanor for failing to report an accident.
Prepare for Next Steps
After you report the accident, you’ll need to stay on-scene until the police arrive. This is a great time to begin preparing for the next step. If you or the other driver are filing insurance claims or taking legal action, you’ll need to take photos at the scene. Take photos of your car’s position, any damage, and any injuries. Keep careful documentation of the other driver’s insurance and contact information, as well as any repair or medical costs. Now is the time to contact an experienced attorney to help you prepare a legal case to get compensation for any injuries, or to protect yourself from a potential lawsuit.
If you suffer a minor car accident, it’s important to know what steps to take ahead of time because in the moment, you might be feeling overwhelmed. The first thing to do is ensure that you and any other drivers or passengers are unharmed, and to get yourselves to safety. Then, you can take the next steps of alerting the police and preparing for insurance claims or legal action. Hiring an experienced attorney right away can help you get off to the best start possible. They can help you make a case for compensation for any injuries from the crash or help you prepare a defense against a potential lawsuit. If you are in Indianapolis, Kokomo, Noblesville, or surrounding areas, call Paul Kaushal with Kaushal Law, LLC. Paul Kaushal offers free consultations and has convenient office locations across central Indiana. Finding the best legal representation can ensure that your minor car accident doesn’t turn into a financial nightmare.
