There’s not much worse than a car accident. They seem to come out of nowhere on an otherwise ho-hum day, or during an evening out.
Imagine halting at a four way stop in the dark, revving your engine and beginning to roll just as an unstoppable BMW roars through the intersection at over 60 miles an hour, smashing through the front of your car, ripping its fuselage like aluminum foil and spinning your vehicle 90 degrees.
What are you going to do?
Sometimes these things happen on the way back from a Braves game.
Sometimes accidents happen on the way home from work.
But whenever it happens – it’s the wrong time. That’s why you need to take some precautions and make sure you’re ready for the worst.
Don’t Panic
Coming unglued never helped anyone. Make sure that you drive with a working cell phone so you can call for help if you need it. Do that instead of becoming emotional.
Don’t Move If People are Hurt
While the law says you need to move your vehicle to the side of the road – that’s only under two conditions – that you or anyone affected is alright, and that your car still runs. In cases where it’s too dangerous to get out, it’s better to stay in your vehicle than risk your safety with oncoming traffic. Make sure that the area around you is safe before you venture out.
Who to Call:
If people are hurt, you’ll need to dial 911. If no one is hurt, you’ll just need to call the police or a tow truck depending on the amount of damage. If there is property damage, you’ll need a police report – but that’s not all.
Do Take Photos
While you’re waiting for the police, it’s a great idea to take photographs of the scene. That will help you categorize the damage in a way that will stand up to insurance scrutiny. If you’ll be trying to prove the extent of damage, pictures can go a long way. Include in the images your car, any other cars, and the location as well as what parts of your car were impacted by the crash.
Don’t Forget the Police Report
While you may be leery of inviting the police to the accident scene, it’s mandated by law, and their report can help you. The same way that pictures prove the accident occurred and corroborates the extent of you damage, a police report makes the incident official as well as any details that are recorded therein.
If you didn’t get a police report but you know that one was made, you can call the Public Affairs office of the Atlanta Police Department to find the name of the officer who made the report.
Do Get Your Snellville Police Report
If you had an accident in Snellville and you’re looking to get your report from the local police, you can get copies of accident reports in person or by mail Monday through Friday, from 7 AM to 5 PM. The cost is $5, or $15 for a private property accident report.
Do Get to a Clinic
Even if you don’t feel much pain after your accident, you’ll be able to take care of yourself best if you make sure you don’t have any soft tissue injuries. Especially if you’re seeking a claim for injuries – you’ll need to get conclusive proof from a doctor, so make sure the possibility is there by choosing an accident injury clinic with easy MRI access.