by Greg L Stevens
Regardless of whether you just obtained your license or have been driving for years, an accident is often a daunting experience. At times there's no way to anticipate or avoid them, but through awareness and enough emergency preparation, you'll know precisely how to handle the results. The site of a car accident is often stressful, but remembering all of the following tips may help you and other people during a difficult time.
A work is never completed except by some accident such as weariness, satisfaction, the need to deliver, or death: for, in relation to who or what is making it, it can only be one stage in a series of inner transformations.
—Paul Valéry (1871–1945)
First of all, check with the other vehicle's driver and anyone else in the vehicle, and phone emergency services if any individual appears to be wounded. In some regions, an ambulance is legally required at any and all auto accidents; even if someone's injuries may not look to be too severe, it's better to be safe than sorry. Once you are totally sure everybody is alright or that emergency medical help is on the way, you'll want to move the vehicles somewhere safe and out of the way. This is for your sake and for other motorists.
Speak with the other car's owner, but refrain from saying too much, as what you say now could result in a hard time in the future. Get and present only the relevant information, such as name and contact information, license and auto insurance policy number, and the model and the year of the car or truck. Call the authorities and stay at the accident site until they appear. Unless the only damage was a scrape on your car door or equally minor damages, you should really record a police statement. It will be evaluated by your insurance provider, and you must be as detailed as possible. For your own personal files, get the officer's name, contact details, badge number and the number of your report. You should also get a duplicate of the official statement, as this has the officer's contact info on it in case it's needed later.
The historian’s job is to aggrandize, promoting accident to inevitability and innocuous circumstance to portent.
—Peter Conrad (b. 1948)
While waiting for the authorities, take advantage of your cell phone or camera to get pictures of any property damage. You must capture both cars from all possible angles, and any feature of the environment (natural or built) which was broken or somehow a consideration in your accident. These images will help your insurance provider understand what actually transpired and why, and will support you in remembering the details at some future date. You will have to contact your insurance company as soon as the rest is all over, or if perhaps you're particularly distressed and could use time for you to calm down, once you're at home and could relate the important information more comfortably. Should you come upon any complications or quarrels about your claim, you might benefit from hiring a lawyer. If you need legal help after your accident, consult an experienced Baltimore accident attorney. A skilled and thorough Maryland injury lawyer can be of great help when reviewing the details of your accident and your insurance claim.