The 10 Things You Need to Do After a Car Accident

“I was just in a car accident, what do I do?” 🤔🤷❓

In the United States alone there are over 6 million auto accidents each year with 20% of them involving fatal injuries.

If you are unfortunate to be involved in one, make sure you remember these 10 things you need to do to protect yourself and your interests:

1. STOP. 🛑

Do not leave the scene of the accident ever. Doing so will result in a “hit and run” violation and it’s 100% illegal and you will face charges from the police.

2. PROTECT THE SCENE.✋

For your own safety and other drivers passing by you should set up cones/flares if you have them. Always keep your emergency lights on for both cars to alert other drivers to stay away. In the dark you should keep a flashlight on, so you can alert other drivers of your location.

3. CALL THE POLICE.👮

In almost every situation of an auto accident, you should call the police. Even if there is no serious damage or apparent injury this can protect you from the other party making claims against you later.

4. MAKE AN ACCURATE RECORD.📝

Make sure you tell the police everything that happened as accurately as you can. Do not guess, if you don’t know or don’t remember it’s ok to tell the officer that. If you are not 100% sure if you are injured in any way tell the officer “I’m not sure”. Injuries from car accidents sometimes don’t surface until hours after the accident. Also, make sure the other party in the accident is telling the office accurate information as well to protect yourself.

5. TAKE PICTURES.📷

The more the better. This will provide accurate detail of the damage of both vehicles and the scene. Be sure to take pictures of any visible injuries you suffered as well.

6. EXCHANGE INFORMATION.🤝🏻

The officer on the scene will take all the relevant information for their records as well but you should always do the same. Information you should take are:

• Name of the other driver/s

• Their address

• Phone number

• Drivers license #

• License plate #

• Their insurance information

• Witnesses’ name and phone number in case you need an attorney and they need to contact them.

• Police report #

7. REPORT THE ACCIDENT.📱

Let your insurance company know ASAP of any accidents you are involved in whether it is your fault or not. They will be able to help you every step of the way with renting a new car and working with the other person’s insurance company to make sure the claims are filed correctly. Most policies require immediate reporting so do not fail to do so.

8. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.🚑

If you or are injured in any way you should seek medical attention immediately whether it involves having an ambulance come to the scene or you go to the hospital right after the police wrap up their report and send you on your way. Often, injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents are not immediately apparent. Even in accidents involving minor impact, you can sustain a serious and permanent injury to your spinal cord. If you lost consciousness or were dazed for even a short period of time following the collision, you may have suffered a concussion or closed head injury. This can cause cognitive and behavioral changes if left untreated.

9. KEEP A FILE.📁

Keep a record of the information on the accident. This will include all the information you took earlier as well as files of the photos you took at the scene.

10. PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS.🛡️

The most important thing you can do after an accident is contact an attorney. They can protect your rights and make sure all the evidence is collected and protected. Sometimes insurance companies will want official statements from you about the accident but consulting with an attorney first can provide the legal advice necessary, so you don’t make mistakes or incriminate yourself. Your attorney can advise you on issues ranging from how to make sure you are fully compensated for your vehicle to how to make sure you are getting the best medical treatment available. Personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no legal fee unless the attorney recovers compensation for your injuries.

👍👍👍

If you don’t have insurance or think you don’t have enough coverage and are paying too much, call us! The Arnold Insurance Agency can help find you a car insurance quote that fits within your budget and checks all the boxes for what coverage you need. As one of Ohio’s premier insurance agency, we work with dozens of the top insurance carriers. Call us at 614-863-0455.

6 Types of Risks for ANY Construction Job

It’s hard to find a profession in the world as complex and unique as construction and contracting jobs. The same can be said for the risks you face every day. While thinking about it can be overwhelming and cause you to lose sleep, there are numerous ways to counter and prepare. (Partnering with Arnold Insurance Agency for your insurance needs and help to evaluate your risks is a great start) Here is a list of 6 types of risks that every contractor needs to be aware of.

Occupational Risks:

• Injury (fatal and non-fatal) that could be attributed to:

  • Worker behavior

  • Improper methods utilized

  • Technology used

  • Weather-related incidents

Financial Risks:

• Increase in supply costs

• Unmanaged growth

• Lacking sales

• Interest rate increases

• Universal economic problems

Contractual Risks:

• Financial penalties from not completing a job on time.

• Risk to company’s reputation for breach of contract.

Project Risks:

• Inadequate project management practices

• Company policies that are below standard and lacking applications of such policies,

• Error in determining the amount of time needed or the resources required for a job.

Natural Risks:

Any natural occurring event that can slow down work at any rate such as:

• Rain🌧️

• Floods🌊

• Snow❄️

• Ice🧊

• Earthquakes

• Etc.

Competitive Risks:

• Losing a job to another company

• Straining your resources and profit margin to ensure a lower bid over another company

• Losing talented workers to someone else due to:

  • Income

  • Benefits

  • Quality of life

  • Better training and growth opportunities, etc.

Switching your insurance to a commercial insurance agency that specializes in contractors like The Arnold Insurance Agency is a good idea. Managing and preparing risk seems like a full-time job, but with proper help from us, OSHA, and others, you can develop a strategy that keeps your workers safe, jobs operating on a budget and on schedule, and ensures the growth and future of your organization.