If you have ever been in an automobile accident then you know the craziness that can happen afterward. A million things are running through your head as you try to take in what just happened. There may be injuries involved in either or both parties and then there is the damage to vehicles and/or property. There a number of things that you should do directly after being involved in an accident. Here are the 5 things that you must do each and every time you are involved in a car accident.

Your auto insurance company Bridgeport WV will be able to process your claim quickly if you follow these steps.

Get To A Safe Place

If the accident is not a major one and your car is still able to move, the first thing to do is find a safe place to park. Every year there are hundreds of accidents and dozens of fatalities that occur AFTER the accident. This is for a number of reasons including approaching vehicles not paying attention to parties of the original accident not moving to a safe place. If possible, move to a parking lot or someplace off the road. Stay as far away from the roadway as possible.

Take An Injury Report

Next, you should check for injuries to yourself and the occupants of all vehicles. If the accident is significant then assess the situation and determine if the occupants should be moved out of the vehicle. If there is evidence of a possible neck injury then it is best to wait for emergency vehicles to arrive before moving the injured person.

Call The Police

The next thing would be to call 911 and report the accident. Depending on the damage and/or injuries involved emergency personnel may or may not be dispatched to your location. Never admit fault, either to the other party or to the police department.

Record The Scene

In the event of a minor fender bender, your local police may not even send anyone out to file a report. In this instance, you will have to do your own report. Document the damage and the location of the accident by taking videos or photos of the scene. Document things like the time of day, weather, temperature, etc. This may prove to play a key role in your insurance company’s case.

Call Your Insurance Company

Promptly report the incident to your insurance agent or company. This should be in a timely manner according to the requirements of your insurance provider. Filing a claim as soon as possible will ensure that you get your vehicle back on the road as soon as possible.

A car accident is never a pleasant event, no matter how small or large. Knowing what to do after an accident will ease some of the stress that comes from it. Remember to be safe first and foremost and make sure the accident is reported to the proper authorities.