Around six million auto accidents happen each year in the United States alone.
So, even if you are the best diver in the world, you could find yourself involved in a car accident at some point.
A road accident does not even have to involve another driver. A single-car accident involves just one car. And single-car accidents can happen due to several reasons.
It is important to know what you should do after being involved in a single-car accident. So, let us look at the seven important steps you should take.
1. Determine Whether Anybody Is Hurt
The very first thing you need to do is check yourself and your passengers for any injuries.
If someone needs medical assistance, ensure you call 911 straight away, if you can.
2. Get Yourself, Any Passengers, and Your Vehicle to a Safe Place
If you and your passengers are uninjured, move your car to the side of the road.
It is important you get yourself, others, and your vehicle to a place of safety to ensure no other accidents occur from your vehicle blocking the road.
3. Call the Police
Once you have gotten to safety, you should call the police.
In some areas, police may not come out for minor collisions, but it is still important that you report the accident.
4. Get Witnesses’ Contact Details
You should obtain the police report after the accident, which can be used to support your insurance case.
A police report will also be a useful piece of evidence should you need to go to court to try and receive a fair settlement from the insurance company, with the assistance of a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer, for instance.
Witness statements will also be useful evidence, so after calling the police from the accident scene, you should get the contact information of any witnesses who are present.
5. Photograph the Accident Scene
You should photograph the accident scene as much as possible.
Take shots of the overall scene as well as close-ups.
Make sure you photograph any damage to your car.
You could photograph any injuries as well, but that could be best left until after getting medical treatment.
6. See a Doctor
Speaking of medical treatment, even if you have no visible injuries and feel fine, it is always best to err on the side of caution and see a doctor after being involved in a car accident.
You could have internal injuries or other injuries in which symptoms do not show up immediately. So, it is always best to get checked out by a medical professional.
7. Call Your Insurance Company
The last important step is to call your insurance company to give notice of the car accident. It could also be a good idea to consult a lawyer to ensure your insurance claim is handled fairly.
What causes a single-car accident?
You now know what steps to take after being involved in a single-car accident. But we have not yet discussed the causes of single-car accidents.
Well, such accidents commonly involve:
- The driver hitting an object on or at the side of the road, such as a fallen tree.
- The driver swerving to hit a vehicle, a cyclist, a pedestrian, an animal, or a road hazard.
- The car rolling over or leaving the road due to the driver losing control of the car for some other cause, such as distracted driving or driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Interesting Related Article: “Types of Car Accident Injuries and Potential Symptoms“