When driving on Arkansas roads, safety is a must. However, even the most cautious drivers may find themselves involved in an accident at times and knowing how to react can make all the difference. State Farm offers the following advice in this case, which will help you mitigate what is already bound to be a stressful situation.
1. Call for Help
If anyone has suffered from serious injuries, the first step is to call for emergency medical care. If you’re too injured to do so, stay where you are and have someone else call for help. If there are no injuries or they are relatively minor, contact law enforcement. A police office can provide an impartial view of what occurred, which can be helpful when making an accident claim. Also, in some states you’re obligated to contact police in the event of a car accident.
2. Move Vehicles to a Secure Area
Once you’ve verified that there are no serious injuries, the next step is to move your vehicle to a safe area. If your vehicle is not operational, put on your hazard lights and take steps to alert other drivers of your presence (for instance, if you have flares you can set them up a safe distance from your vehicle). When waiting for the police to arrive, be sure to stand in a safe area as far away from traffic as possible.
3. Gather Information From Those at the Scene
You and any other drivers involved will need to exchange contact and insurance information so the accident can be reported to your respective insurance companies. If there are witnesses at the scene, be sure to take down their contact information. Witness statements are extremely helpful when making a claim, as they will provide an objective version of events to help establish fault. It’s also a good idea to get the badge number and name of any responding officers so you can request a copy of the police report.