You are driving around town, listening to music going to the store or nowhere in particular, when out of the blue...BAM! Everything changes in an instant. The sound of breaking glass and screeching tires is unmistakable as your body is jarred. You may be unsure at first about what has happened. You have just been involved in a car accident, which can catch someone completely off-guard. No matter how carefully you drive, and no matter how sharp your driving skills, chances are excellent that sooner or later you will be involved in an auto accident. Just because you are a good driver doesn't mean the person behind or in front of you is. So when an accident happens, you need to be prepared. The following steps should be taken right after you are involved in an accident. Before even getting into your car for the day, you need to make sure your insurance is up-to-date. Most states have passed a law requiring that a driver have insurance before driving a car. You should always have proof of your insurance in the car that you are driving. It is also an excellent idea to keep a few items for documentation purposes in case of an accident. These items may include a pencil, pad of paper, your cell phone and some type of camera. These days, most cell phones have cameras built in, so you can kill two birds with one stone that way (assuming your phone takes decent pictures). Now back to the accident you have just been involved in. If there are no injuries and the cars are drivable, the vehicles involved should be moved to the side of the road. Leaving vehicles in the middle of the road creates a dangerous situation that could cause more accidents. Also turn on your hazard lights. The next step is to call law enforcement. In cases of a minor car accident, the police should still be contacted even if they do not respond right away. In cases where the police come, you should remain at the scene of the accident until the police leave or give you permission to leave. Next you should exchange information with the other driver that was involved in the accident. The information you need to collect includes the person's name and contact information, insurance provider and policy number, driver's license number and vehicle license plate number. You might also want to make note of any damage or marks to the car as well as its make and model. This is when a camera can come in handy, so you should take pictures of the damage done to both cars. After the accident, you should file a report with your insurance company, even if the accident was minor, not your fault, or if you just choose not to have insurance fix your car. This will safe-guard you from any direct law suit that the other driver might file. And never admit that an accident is your fault, as that could relieve your insurance company from the duty of paying for damages. Auto accidents are never fun, but if you follow the above steps you will at least be prepared to deal with the situation in an orderly manner. Just stay calm and everything will be okay. To talk to an experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyer, visit the Bisnar Chase Los Angeles personal injury lawyer website or call 1-800-666-4701.
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