A car accident can happen to you when you least expect it. When a car accident occurs through no fault of your own, you might be especially shaken up and stressed about what to do next. The shock and stress of a fender-bender or high-impact collision can leave you feeling unsure of what to do next, especially if you didn’t see it coming. If you find yourself in a car accident that was not your fault and wondering what to do, here are some steps you can take to ensure your car accident is handled properly. You will also want to find Pro-Care Car Accident Doctors near you to prioritize your health and safety after a crash that wasn’t your fault.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident
Here are five steps to take immediately and what to do after an accident that’s not your fault.
1. Stay Calm & Check for Injuries
Take a deep breath and assess yourself for injuries. The body will likely produce an automatic response to such a stressful situation, pumping you with adrenaline to give you a boost of energy and engage your self-preservation responses. Staying calm helps you to get a clearer look at your surroundings to ensure you are in a safe place or that you can move to one. You will also want to check yourself for any obvious injuries. Cuts, scrapes, and even broken bones are easier to recognize, and you’ll also want to pay attention to any pain or other signs of injury.
2. Report the Accident
Call the police to report the car accident, whether you were in a minor rear-end collision or a more significant crash. A police officer will fill out a report detailing the accident, and if the wreck wasn’t your fault, then the police report can be used to help hold the at-fault driver accountable. Your car insurance company will likely also want a copy of the report to help with processing the claim. A police officer can also request medical attention at the scene if you or anyone else in either vehicle has sustained a serious injury that needs to be attended to right away.
3. Gather Information at the Scene
There are several pieces of information you will want to gather at the scene to help with the insurance claims process after a car accident. You will need the other driver’s name, contact information, and insurance company information. If anyone else was in the at-fault driver’s vehicle, then it helps to get their name and contact information as well, along with any witnesses of the accident. If you are able to do so safely, you can take photos of the accident, any subsequent damages to your vehicle, and any obvious signs of injury. You will also want to get the name, contact information, and badge number of the police officers who assisted you at the scene of the accident.
4. Visit a Car Accident Doctor
Whether or not you see visible signs of injuries, you want to get checked out by a car accident doctor. Going to a car accident doctor may simply be a preventative measure to ensure you were not injured in the crash. However, it is important to note that many people do not realize they are injured right away because the shock and adrenaline in your body after a car accident can actually mask pain and other symptoms. A car accident doctor will be able to assess you for common car accident injuries, run diagnostic imaging scans when necessary, and determine the severity of your injuries.
If you suffered any injuries during a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you will need detailed documentation of your visits and treatments with a car accident doctor as part of your insurance claim. Car accident doctors are well-versed in the type of highly detailed documentation necessary for car accident injury claims.
5. Keep Documentation During Recovery
You will also want to keep documentation throughout your recovery period. This includes information about your treatment as well as necessary repairs to your vehicle. In some instances, a car accident injury may prevent you from going back to work right away, and keeping a detailed record of your treatment and recovery will be helpful to share with your employer.
How a Car Accident Doctor Can Help You
If you have an obvious injury after a car accident, then you may seek emergency treatment from the hospital or urgent care. However, you will need a car accident doctor to support you through treatment and recovery. Whether or not you received an initial diagnosis from emergency services, it is best to see a car accident doctor as soon as possible because these doctors are trained in assessing, diagnosing, and treating a wide range of car accident injuries. Here’s how a car accident doctor can help you after you’ve been in a wreck.
Injury Assessment & Diagnosis
Car accident doctors know the signs and symptoms of car accident injuries. Many people are surprised to learn that the symptoms of car accident injuries can take hours or even days to fully appear. However, a car accident doctor knows what to look for and how to assess you for injuries whether or not you are currently experiencing symptoms. Your car accident doctor may also use diagnostic imaging tools, like X-rays or CT scans, to get a better look at the injured area.
Personalized Treatment Planning
Every person’s body experiences a car accident injury or trauma in its own way. Your car accident doctor will develop a treatment plan that is personalized to your specific injuries and health care need. Personalized treatment planning will include addressing your symptoms, back pain treatment, and providing you support through the recovery process. Some car accident injuries can take weeks or months for you to fully heal and return to your normal activities. Your car accident doctor will work with you to determine how your injuries have affected your healthy functioning and help you heal and recover.
Visit Pro-Care Medical Centers online to find a car accident doctor near you. Pro-Care car accident doctors include the best team physicians, chiropractors, and advanced practitioners at a location near you, and you can easily book an appointment online.
