Car wrecks are always situations where your adrenaline will be pumping. While this does 
give you the strength to act when needed, it also gives you tunnel vision, literally and figuratively. Once you know for sure that you’re not injured, you’ll have to take some basic actions to make sure that you’re safe. First and foremost, make sure that your vehicle is not in the path of any oncoming traffic. If it’s just a fender bender, this shouldn’t be a problem as the vehicle will still be mobile. If your vehicle is crippled, get out of the road.
You’ll have to deal with the other driver, who may or may not be angry about the incident. Understand that this is natural and, even if they’re calling you every name in the book, it’s not something you need to take personally. Be rational and calm. Make sure no one else is hurt. Once you’re talking, this is where it gets tricky. The other person in the accident will probably start calling their insurance company. Don’t call yours. You’ll want to call a car wreck attorney first.
Right after an accident, you’re in danger of saying or doing something that may open you up to problems with the other driver. Some drivers are looking for this: a way to sue you for something that’s not your fault. Your lawyer will tell you how to handle this. Always take their advice. You will also want to make sure you ask your lawyer how to handle your insurance company. Even though they’re theoretically on “your side”, they have profit margins to take care of. Those profit margins are bigger when they don’t pay claims, such as for the damages to your car, for instance.
An accident can happen in numerous different environments. It may take place on a crowded city street, on an Interstate or on a peaceful, suburban lane. Make sure that you’re not standing in the road or otherwise putting yourself in danger after the wreck. Always call the police after a wreck. They may not need to show up, but you never know how the other driver is going to react and having a police officer on the way may keep their worst tendencies in check. If you don’t have an attorney, keep the card of one who works on contingency handy, and call them.
