A car accident has the potential to cause both emotional and physical injuries. However, it is important that you know what to do after an Ohio crash so that you can minimize the short and long-term damage it may cause.

Assess the situation

The first thing that you want to do after a crash is to stop and assess the situation. If you smell gas, you should get out of your car immediately as it could become engulfed in flames without warning. If you are hurt, it may be best to stay in your car assuming that it is safe to do so. Staying where you are may reduce the risk of exacerbating a head injury, a broken bone or other injuries. In the event that you are capable of doing so, you should call for a police officer, ambulance or other emergency service providers to come to the accident scene.

Gather evidence

While you wait for emergency service providers to arrive, you should start gathering evidence. For instance, you can take pictures of the crash scene, ask for video footage of the crash as it happened or get a witness statement. It’s also important to exchange contact and insurance information with other drivers involved in the motor vehicle accident.

File an insurance claim

The evidence that you collect at the scene of the accident will be a key part of your insurance claim. You will also likely need to include the insurance and contact information of the other parties involved in the crash if you have it. Depending on the severity of the crash, you may need to submit a report to local authorities in addition to filing a claim with your coverage provider.