Car accidents are happening more and more frequently with each passing day. If you find yourself in a car accident, there are a few things that you will need to do depending on how severe the accident is. Keep reading for what to do after getting in an accident, whether it is your first or your fourteenth.
Get Yourself Checked Out
Not every accident will need to get the jaws of life involved. Even if you are in a small fender bender and insist that you feel fine, it is a good idea to seek medical attention just to make sure. Shock and adrenaline are very powerful things, and can make a fractured ankle look like a bad sprain. No matter how injured you may or may not be, you will experience a rude awakening once that shock and adrenaline wear off. Better safe than sorry is the rule to follow.
If you find yourself with extensive injuries, they will need to be treated right away. Then there is the matter of the cost of treatment. Who pays for medical bills after a car accident depends on whose fault it is and whether the party at fault has insurance, as well as what type of insurance the at-fault party has.
For example, if someone hits you and they are found to be at fault, but do not have full coverage and there was a driver not covered by the insurance, they will not pay your medical bills. Between initial examination, treatment, potential physical therapy, and all of the equipment you may have to use throughout the recovery process, those bills are going to be sky high and way too much to pay without assistance. If your insurance will not help with the cost either, you will have to search for alternative payment methods, such as loans or payment plans.
How Are You Getting Around?
Most of the time, a car will be totaled out, even if the damage to it is purely cosmetic. If that is the case, you will need to find an alternative method of transportation. If you can still drive, there is always the option of renting a car if you only need to drive a little bit before you buy another car. However, if you cannot drive or do not want to rent a car, you can take public transport, order a rideshare service, or get a ride from a friend. At the worst, if you do not have to go very far you could very well walk.
From hearing the screech of tires to feeling the impact, your life changes during and after the instant that the accident occurs. Depending on how bad it ends up being for you, you may not have to handle the hassle of insurance or finding a new car. You may not even report your accident if it is either a minor scrape or you settle with the other driver on your own. However, if it is a bad accident, make sure you are prepared in every way so your life is not completely turned upside down.
