Car accidents can be overwhelming, sometimes especially for college students who are young, relatively inexperienced drivers, often far from home. Navigating an unfamiliar emergency event on your own for the first time can lead to mistakes.
If you are a college student, knowing what to do immediately after a crash can help you to more effectively safeguard your safety, health and legal rights. The following is the most important tip that you should know by heart, so that you can employ it if it is ever necessary to do so.
The golden rule: Safety first, gather information second
Your priority after a car crash needs to be safety — both your own and that of those around you. You’ll want to check yourself and others for injuries. If the accident at issue isn’t particularly serious and there are no serious injuries, move your vehicle to the side of the road to avoid further accidents. If severe injuries or major damage has occurred, call 911 immediately to report the crash and request medical assistance.
Even if you feel fine, it’s important to see a doctor after a car crash. Some injuries, like whiplash or concussions, may not manifest symptoms immediately. Prompt medical attention will help to ensure that you receive any treatment that you require, and that your injuries are documented. This can be essential for an insurance claim or personal injury case, should you need to pursue one.
Once it is safe to do so and authorities have been called, you’ll want get photos and videos of the scene, and to collect important information from anyone else involved, including their:
- Name, address, and phone number
- Driver’s license number
- Insurance company and policy number
- License plate number
If there were passengers, pedestrians or witnesses involved, you’ll want to get their contact information as well. This information will be consequential to any insurance and/or legal action you may ultimately file. While safety should be your immediate priority, taking time to safeguard your legal and financial interests after a crash is crucial as well.