If you’re involved in a car crash with another person, there are steps you should take to help yourself. To start with, you should always stay at the scene, regardless of who is at fault. If the other driver is at fault, it’s important to tell this to the police when they arrive, explaining your side of what happened.
If you need medical help, call 911 and get the care you need. Your health is the first priority. If you are okay but others are injured, you should provide aid when you are able to do so. Check on the other driver and passengers as well; even if that driver is responsible for the crash, he or she deserves medical assistance.
After you call the authorities and seek medical help, you should exchange information if at all possible. If not, the police will record the details of the accident, and you should be able to access this information after you are stabilized in the hospital.
Many people apologize when they aren’t at fault, so it’s very important not to. If you apologize, the police or others at the scene may think you’re admitting that you caused the crash. If you did cause the accident, you shouldn’t apologize either, because it’s not your job to determine fault. Instead, allow the police and insurance company to determine fault as necessary.
If you are able to, talk to witnesses at the scene and gather their information in case it’s needed. Then, inform your insurance company of the accident. Once you’ve done all this, you may want to speak with your attorney about the potential for a lawsuit or filing a claim through the insurance company.
Source: FindLaw, “After a Car Accident: First Steps,” accessed Oct. 25, 2016