Car Accident: Essential Do’s and Don'ts

Check for injuries

The first thing to do immediately after an accident is to check yourself for injuries. After checking yourself you should also check up on others in the car. It’s necessary to ask them and get a response from everyone as some might simply be in shock and would not be unable to express pain. Also, if you crashed into another vehicle or vice versa, it would be courteous to ask them if they are fine too. The most important things to avoid are injuries and fatalities to humans in such cases.

Get away from the vehicles

If everyone is okay and in proper shape then you should get to a safe distance from the vehicles involved in the crash. Even if you do not see any type of damage to the car you can not negate the possibility that there might be some fluids leaking inside the car or that the fuel tank could be damaged. You can very easily be caught up in a fatal blast. Thus, to be on a safer side, always step away from the vehicle.

Call up the authorities

If there is someone who is injured then the first thing to do is to call 911. A person who is seriously injured should not be moved. You should always wait for the emergency workers to arrive on the scene. According to expert Chicago Car Accident Lawyers, there should always be police at the scene to document everything so that the other party can not put false claims on you. You should also lawyer up if you already haven’t in case things get ugly.

Exchange personal information

You would hardly ever know the person you just had an accident with. The stranger could be anyone from anywhere. After you take care of all the necessary actions there is one last action that is also equally important and that is to take the personal information of the stranger. You would also be expected to share your personal information as you would also be a stranger to the other party. The personal information involves your full name, phone number and current address.

Don’t hold a grudge

In the end, it is important to understand that accidents happen every day on the roads. It is impossible to totally prevent accidents from happening as we are not machines, we are humans and humans are bound to slip up every now and then. Minor and major accidents keep happening. It is important to maintain your cool and to avoid doing anything rash in the heat of the moment. Any quarrels should be settled in courts and in minor cases of accidents people should simply shake hands and move ahead with life.


Car accidents are a usual sight for anyone who has been driving for a while. It is definitely not an experience one would want to have but probability says that one would have to face such a  situation at least once in a lifetime. If it does happen then one should know what to do. Go through this article so that you are prepared to take immediate action if you’re ever caught in this situation.