Should You Call the Police After an Accident?

Unfortunately, most people have no idea what they should do if they are ever in an auto accident. Chances are you will be in some kind of collision, even a minor one, at some point in your life, so you should know what to do following the collision. You may have heard that calling the police is a good idea after the accident too, but is this really something you should do? This guide will answer this question, and explain everything you should do after an accident.

Calling the Police

The first thing you need to understand is that there are two different numbers you can use to call the police. The first is 911, which is for emergencies. The second number is used for non-emergencies. The non-emergency number depends on which area of the city you are in.

There are only five situations where you should call 911 following an accident:

  • You are injured
  • Someone else is injured
  • A car is blocking traffic
  • The other driver is very aggressive or angry
  • The other driver leaves the scene of the accident without giving you contact information

If you find yourself in any of these situations, you should immediately call 911 without hesitation. Remember, leaving the scene of an accident without providing the other driver with your contact information is considered a hit and run. This is against the law, regardless of who is at fault for the accident.

It is generally a good idea to call the non-emergency police number after an accident no matter what. A police officer may or may not come to the scene of the accident depending on how busy they are. A police officer can help you create an official accident report, which may assist in legal action or receiving compensation.

What Else To Do

Here are the other things you should do immediately following an accident:

  1. Evaluate whether you are hurt
  2. Evaluate whether anyone else is hurt
  3. Safely move your vehicle to the side of the road
  4. Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver
  5. Gather contact information from any witnesses
  6. Take photos of the accident and any damage done to both vehicles
  7. Contact your insurance provider.

Unless you are hurt and need to be transported to the hospital, you should always do all of these things after every single auto accident. Additionally, if it is too dangerous to move your vehicle, do not attempt to. If you are worried about legal action being brought against you, contact an attorney, like a car accident lawyer in Memphis, TN from Patterson Bray, as soon as possible.