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What to do after a Car Accident in Alberta | 7 Effective Steps

What to Do after a Car Accidnet Featured Image
What to do after a Car Accident in Alberta | 7 Effective Steps

No matter how experienced and good a driver you are, accidents can happen in just a blink of an eye. And the situation can be quite overwhelming, which makes you stunned, and you can’t think properly about the next steps.

Go through this complete guideline of what to do after a car accident in Alberta.

7 Steps to Do after a Car Accident in Alberta

So what if you find yourself in such a devastating situation in an accident? Let’s take a look at the steps.

Step 1: Stop The Car and Keep Calm

A car accident is a pretty nerve-racking moment, and it’s quite hard to keep your emotion in check. But try to calm yourself down so that you can make better decisions. After involving in a car accident, try not to leave the place even if you are liable for the accident.

If you don’t stop your car after hitting a car or a person, you may charge with a criminal offence. Turn on your four-way lights (hazard lights and flashers). If you have road flares, set them up. Also, for your safety, stay in your car.

Step 2: Call the Authority or Police

After an accident, first, if there are any injuries or not. Then Call 911 for any emergency. You should inform the police of the following cases.

  • Someone is injured because of the accident
  • The collective damage may exceed $2000
  • If the suspect is driving the car under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • If a government vehicle is involved in the accident
  • The driver doesn’t have a license
  • The accident damaged a private or municipal property

If none of these incidents happen, you don’t need to contact the police. You have to call the collision reporting center to notify them about the minor accident.

Step 3: Exchange Information and Collect Evidence

After making sure that there are no major injuries, you should spend a moment to exchange information with other involving parties. It’s important to gather evidence to serve future purposes. And your cell phone is the perfect option to do this.

Click photos or record as many videos as possible. Try to cover the accident from all angles. These photos will play a crucial role in determining the fault. This evidence will also help you to go through the further procedure.

Step 4: Record All the Details of the Accident

You can give an honest statement when you can remember all the details clearly. So, try to note down everything before your memory become twisted. Along with photo and video evidence, your accurate statement can positively impact.

You can use your phone’s recorder, email, notepad, or anything to record the details in your word. Try to note down the following thing.

  • Date and time
  • Weather condition
  • Road condition
  • Estimated speed of the vehicles
  • Overall accident description

Step 5: Do a Physical Checkup

A physical checkup is a significant factor when an accident involves an injury. The medical bill is a big variable in calculating collective damage.

There are standard accident benefits that both the victim and assailant can get. But if the accident causes permanent injury or other fatal consequences, a legal suit can be started to get the compensation for the damage.

That’s why it’s crucial to get a physical checkup and determine the impact of the injury. Sometimes, after falling into an accidental situation, the injuries don’t show at first. You might think it’s just a minor thing and ignore it. But it can turn into something bad in an unfortunate case.

Hence, it’s better to make sure that you and the other involved party are okay. It will also help minimize the chances of further hassles.

Step 6: Call Your Insurance Company

Car accidents have a significant impact on your insurance. It is directly linked with your premium. Even if you are not at fault for the accident, you still need to report it to your agency.

You should make the report as soon as you can. And note that you must report it within seven days of the accident. Otherwise, your insurance company might deny your claim.

So, try to contact them within 24 hours and give them the following information.

  • Date, time, and the description of the accident
  • Name and license of all drivers involved
  • Number of involving passengers
  • The damage to your car

Step 7: Contact a Lawyer

A personal injury lawyer can handle the overall situation with their expertise. If you find that the involvement of multiple parties is so confusing to deal with, you should seek help from a professional. By doing so, you can secure a fair settlement.

You May Also Read: What to Do If You Get Into a Car Accident and Someone Dies?

Compensation for a Car Accident in Alberta

So far, you have seen the seven steps that you should take after getting into a car accident. Now let’s learn about the compensation that an at-fault driver is liable to pay.

Well, the plaintiff can claim the following car accident compensation in Alberta.

The Impact of an Accident on Insurance

You need to focus on some key points when seeking help from the insurance company. The premium of the at-fault driver usually goes up. However, there are some exceptional cases too. Like if your policy includes accident forgiveness, you may get through with the first offence. Although you might not have to pay more premium, it will remain on your record.

The Bottom Line

An accident is an uncertain event that no one wants to have. However, if you are smart enough, you could easily come out of the situation. So if you experience such an unfortunate event, remain calm and carefully proceed with your next steps.

And don’t hesitate to seek the help of a professional if you struggle to handle the overall situation.