Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of injuries on roadways. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that nearly 391,000 people sustained injuries due to distracted driving in 2015 alone.
In the event of a car accident, you need to take proper steps to protect yourself. Naturally, you want to seek medical attention if you or anyone else is hurt. It helps to see a doctor even if no one is apparently injured. However, there are other steps to take.
Speak to the other driver
After an accident, you want to talk to the other party to obtain insurance information. You should also pay attention to what the driver says. The driver may admit he or she was looking at a phone when the collision occurred. Make a note of this. In fact, you may even want to write it down. This information will help greatly if this event ends up going to court. For instance, if the other driver denies being on the phone, then your attorney would know to try to access phone records to see what really happened.
Call the police
The driver at fault may not want you to call the police, but you should do it anyway. It helps immensely in court if there is a police report on file. Additionally, although the police may come, it does not mean anyone will face arrest. The police may simply take down both drivers’ testimonies and file a report.
Call your insurance agency
After the police have finished their business, you can contact your insurance company. It is better for an agent to hear about an accident from you than the other person’s insurance agency. After contacting, all you can do is wait to see what occurs. In the event the other company denies a claim, then you should probably look into suing. At that point, you can start consulting with attorneys to review options.