Educating Your Child On The Proper Steps To Take Following A Car Accident
Your child has just learned how to drive. What happens if they are in an accident when you are not there? It is important to teach your child the proper way to act in the event they are involved in an auto accident. If your child does not know the steps to take after an auto accident, they may find themselves breaking the law. Below is a list of the steps to take and the protocol to follow immediately following an accident.
Don't Leave The Scene
Being involved in an accident is very overwhelming for a teenager and they may decide to flee the scene. This, however, is illegal. If the other driver that is involved in the accident has serious injuries, your child leaving the scene could put this person in jeopardy. Whenever an accident occurs, your child should look to ensure that all others involved are safe.
Your child should also remain at the scene to gather insurance information. Whether your child or the other driver is at fault, insurance information needs to be gathered in order to file a claim. If a claim is not filed with the necessary information, you will have to pay for repairs out of pocket.
Report Accident To Police
In order to be sure that your child is protected, it is important that they contact the police as soon as possible after an accident. A car accident is stressful for everyone and when emotions run high, your child will find themselves faced with the possibility of someone getting angry and violent. As a precaution, have them notify the proper authorities as soon as possible.
When speaking to the police, be sure your child discloses any pain or injuries that are a result of the accident. This is also important for insurance purposes. Claims may not be approved if the injuries were not reported immediately.
Exchange Information
It is a necessity to gather personal information from the other driver following an auto accident. Your child will need to ask for the name and telephone number of the driver. When asking for insurance information, be sure that your child knows to ask for the name of the other driver's insurance provider and the telephone number.
Your child will also need to know the make, model and year of the other vehicle involved. The license plate number of the other car is also of the utmost importance.
There are laws and safety precautions set in place to safeguard our children following an auto accident. By following the steps listed above, you will help protect your child from making a regrettable mistake. If other drivers do not cooperate, you may need to contact legal help like Dreyer & Dreyer Attorneys At Law.