One of the scariest aspects of car accidents is that, given enough time, everyone will be involved in one. Simply put, no matter how safe we drive, we cannot control the negligence of another, which means being in a car accident is inevitable. But, if one is prepared, a car crash can be just a bad day.
Immediately after a collision
According to the Seattle Police Department, if one is in a car crash (or witnesses one), call 9-1-1. Police assistance is needed for every car accident, period. We cannot know the nature of potential injuries, so having everyone examined by medical personnel is essential. Plus, having a police report for every accident is mandated by law, and it can be crucial to helping win a personal liability lawsuit or getting a fair insurance payout.
Exchanging information
When the police arrive, they will gather each party’s contact and vehicle information, along with their insurance details. However, if police refuse to come out, the parties themselves will need to exchange this information. Remember, if there is over $1,000 in damages, the collision must be reported in the Collision Report system with the Washington State Patrol. This information will be needed to fill make the collision record.
Creating a record
If one has a dashboard camera, be sure to turn it off and secure it. Most automatically delete footage on a loop, and we do not want it to delete the car accident. Though, most will automatically record potential collision incidents. Then, take pictures of everything, including both vehicles, license plates, drivers’ licenses, insurance cards, the accident scene, including the surroundings, and anything else one may think is important, like city cameras. This can be vital information to take a Seattle, Washington, case to court later and to prove fault with the insurance companies. In the past, because pictures were so important, lawyers recommended keeping a disposable camera in one’s glove compartment. Now, though, our phones can handle this, but it is a good idea to keep a back-up battery in the glove compartment, just in case.
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