When was the last time you were in a car accident?
Answers I hear range from "never" (consider yourself very lucky) to "Big one or small one?"
According to the car insurance industry Americans on average will be involved in 3-4 accidents in their lifetime. There are 10 million car accidents of all kinds every YEAR.
Most people feel they know what do when involved in an accident, but do you know what NOT to do?
1. Call 911.
We've had patients show up directly in our office after a car accident due to the pain they are experiencing. We are glad they did,
Answers I hear range from "never" (consider yourself very lucky) to "Big one or small one?"
According to the car insurance industry Americans on average will be involved in 3-4 accidents in their lifetime. There are 10 million car accidents of all kinds every YEAR.
Most people feel they know what do when involved in an accident, but do you know what NOT to do?
1. Call 911.
We've had patients show up directly in our office after a car accident due to the pain they are experiencing. We are glad they did,
and our doctors ALWAYS make sure to send you to the place to get the care and treatment you need. If you have been involved in an accident the first thing you should do is make sure everyone is okay AND call 911. Besides making sure you get the care you need it helps with documentation of the accident for the insurance company. As many as one in seven drivers has no car insurance. Many are skirting the system by carrying a fake or expired insurance card.
If you don't get a police report documenting your wreck, what proof do you have that it even happened? You always will have the opportunity to get an accident report. Sometimes, this helps speed up the claims process as well. Do yourself a favor and make sure you do this.
If you don't get a police report documenting your wreck, what proof do you have that it even happened? You always will have the opportunity to get an accident report. Sometimes, this helps speed up the claims process as well. Do yourself a favor and make sure you do this.
Tearing of ligament in whiplash injury. Yikes! 2. Don't Forget Proper Documentation
You'll need to have a consistent and accurate account of the wreck to give to law enforcement and insurance providers. You may even find yourself telling this story several times including to your doctor (if you need one).
Generally, you'll need to get the other driver's name, address, insurance company name and policy number. Make note of the make, model and color of vehicle they were driving as well. Don't forget to write down the other vehicle's license plate number, too. Were there any witnesses? If so, get their names and phone numbers. If you have a camera, take some pictures of the crash site. Those may come in handy during the claims process later on.
3. Do NOT Neglect the Aftermath
While the car wreck was probably traumatic and difficult enough, the hardest part often comes after. That's why it's important to follow up on everything that needs to be taken care of. This can sometimes include getting legal and medical advice.
First of all, were you injured in the wreck? Have you had pain or persistent health problems since it happened? If so, you need to see a doctor right away. You may also want to get in touch with a lawyer if you think you're facing big medical bills. And if another driver is threatening legal action against you, you'll probably need to get a lawyer of your own.
You'll need to have a consistent and accurate account of the wreck to give to law enforcement and insurance providers. You may even find yourself telling this story several times including to your doctor (if you need one).
Generally, you'll need to get the other driver's name, address, insurance company name and policy number. Make note of the make, model and color of vehicle they were driving as well. Don't forget to write down the other vehicle's license plate number, too. Were there any witnesses? If so, get their names and phone numbers. If you have a camera, take some pictures of the crash site. Those may come in handy during the claims process later on.
3. Do NOT Neglect the Aftermath
While the car wreck was probably traumatic and difficult enough, the hardest part often comes after. That's why it's important to follow up on everything that needs to be taken care of. This can sometimes include getting legal and medical advice.
First of all, were you injured in the wreck? Have you had pain or persistent health problems since it happened? If so, you need to see a doctor right away. You may also want to get in touch with a lawyer if you think you're facing big medical bills. And if another driver is threatening legal action against you, you'll probably need to get a lawyer of your own.
We are here to help. If you have been involved in an accident you need to be checked to make sure it is nothing more serious. Fortunately at Coastal Chiropractic Clinic we are specially trained to handle cases like this and have a state of the art Digital Motion X-ray designed to detect whiplash injuries from auto accidents.
386-427-8403
386-427-8403
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