What to Do After a Car Accident: A Step-by-Step Guide

Car Accident Statistics That May Surprise You

Car accidents are more common than you might think. According the National Safety Council, 2023 saw approximately 13,100,000 reported car crashes with over 5,000,000 injuries reported and over 44,000 deaths. The statistics leave little room for doubt. If you’re a regular driver, sooner or later, you may be involved in a car accident, even if you do what you can to avoid an accident.

In The Article

How to Avoid Car Accidents and Injuries

While statistics can be scary, you can take steps to avoid car accidents and injuries from car accidents. Safe driving practices may include:

• Regular maintenance on your vehicle

• Practice defensive driving

• Avoid driving distractions (including cell phone use)

• Never drive under the influence

• Never drive while fatigued

• Pass with care

Additionally, you can work to avoid injuries by always wearing your seatbelt and avoiding speeding.

Steps to Take After a Car Accident

If you’ve been in a car crash, there are steps you can take to protect your rights.

Step 1: Ensure Your Safety and the Safety of Others

In every accident situation, safety should be the highest priority. Make sure you and your passengers are ok and check to see if they’re injured. Check for signs of any injures. Move carefully, so you don’t aggravate any unobvious injuries. Remember, adrenaline is pumping through your veins, and it can make you temporarily insensitive to pain. If you or anyone involved in the crash has obvious and serious injuries, ensure they move as little as possible and wait for emergency personnel to arrive.
If no one is seriously injured, you should also evaluate your surroundings to assess whether the aftermath of the accident may pose any immediate threat to other drivers. If possible, move your car out of the way from other traffic. This helps avoid delays, but, more importantly, it removes dangers from the road.

Step 2: Contact the Police

In New Mexico, the driver of a car involved in an accident is obligated by law to report the incident to the police, depending on the circumstances. You must contact the police if:

• The accidents results in bodily injury or death
• The apparent property damage could exceed $500 in value

Even if neither of the above conditions is apparently met, contacting the police is still advisable, as you may find that you have injuries in the days after the crash. Bodily injury may manifest itself some time after the accident. In such a case, the police report may help the injured party with a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.

Step 3: Collect Information, If Possible

Whether you believe you are going to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party you should gather information in order to protect your rights.
Information to collect after a car accident includes:

• The full names of the other driver(s) involved
• Contact information (including address, phone number, and email address)
• Insurance information (company name, policy number)
• Driver’s license numbers of all drivers involved
• License plate numbers of all vehicles involved

While talking to the other driver or the police, it’s essential to never admit fault in the accident. Avoid any statements that may be considered an admission of guilt. Don’t apologize!

Step 4: Document Everything

A personal injury claim may start at the scene of the accident. Use your phone to gather important evidence that can help your case. Take pictures and video of the following:

• Your injuries
• Any property damage to your car
• The other driver’s car
• The scene of the crash and its surroundings

Step 5: Seek Medical Attention

If you don’t leave the scene of the crash in an ambulance, you should go straight to the nearest medical provider after you’ve collected evidence. Many accident victims decide to skip this step and it’s not a good idea.
Remember that injuries aren’t always clear right after a car accident. That is why it’s so important to ensure that you’re safe and don’t require any immediate medical attention. A medical checkup will add documentation to your injury claim, and it could potentially save your life.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in New Mexico

If you’ve been injured in a car crash in New Mexico, hiring a car accident lawyer can help you recover from the damages you incurred. At Ron Bell Injury Lawyers, we work hard to ensure our clients get the compensation they deserve after a car accident. Contact us today for your free case evaluation. 898-BELL