Being in an auto accident is perhaps one of the most horrifying experiences you will ever have to face. For this reason, you are probably going to be stressed to the limits of your endurance and unable to focus on what should be done next. Many people completely blank out as a result and later, when asked about the details of what they did or said, are unable to recall them in any kind of logical order. If you are involved in a car accident the first order of business is to stay calm. That’s the first and foremost thing that you can, and should, do. After that, there are steps to take to ensure that everyone is safe and that investigators can get to the bottom of exactly what happened when and to whom.

Car Accident

See If Anyone Is Injured

After taking a nice deep breath, take a moment to see if anyone has been injured. If all is well in your vehicle you could always check with the driver of the other car. In this day and age most people have cell phones but there is a possibility that the other vehicle may be sans mobile phone at the moment and may need immediate medical attention. If there is any question whatsoever whether one of the drivers or passengers needs medical assistance, always opt in favor of caution. Call an ambulance.

In the Absence of Injuries – A Minor Traffic Accident

If the accident is a simple fender bender and no one is hurt, the wisest course of action would be to move both (all if more than one) vehicles off to the side of the road. A seasoned auto accident attorney will be the first to tell you, especially during hazardous driving conditions or on dangerous roadways, that you need to pull as far off the road as possible. More accidents than you’d care to count are the result of moving vehicles hitting disabled vehicles on the roadway that weren’t moved to the side of the road.

Turn on Hazards and Call the Police

When an accident is minor and you’ve moved your vehicle off to the side of the road, the next step would be to turn on your hazards. Any vehicle on the side of the road should do the same. This would be in the case of a multi-vehicle collision. Once all people and property are safely off the road it is time to call the police. If you are in a location where you don’t know the direct line, 911 is sufficient. In fact, when you have a mobile phone you don’t really even need to have a service plan as most carriers allow free 911 calls even when there is no provider or you haven’t paid your bill.

The best thing to remember when you have been involved in an auto accident is to take a long, deep breath and do your best to stay calm. The more nervous you get, the easier it will be to act foolishly. People have even been known to step away from a damaged vehicle into the line of oncoming traffic. Breathe, relax and then act.

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