If you have ever been in a car accident, then you know how very stressful the situation can be. As a matter of fact, it can be so stressful that you can temporarily lose your best judgment and forget altogether how to handle the situation. There are some very basic things you absolutely must do in this unfortunate situation in order to get the best possible outcome. Here are the must-follow guidelines for what to do after a car accident:

Check for injuries. You may not have a visible wound, in the form of a gaping cut, but you may still be injured just the same. Move your head and neck around. Arch and twist your back. If you feel any pain, you should call an ambulance immediately. Some of the worst auto accident injuries begin as slight aches and grow into all-consuming chronic pain if untreated.

Get the other driver’s information. This is an all-important first step because you can never be sure of exactly how much time you will have with the other party to the accident. If they drive away, then at least you know you can contact them down the line. Also, don’t take their word for it; check the information they give you against their driver’s license.

Call the police. This is a no-brainer, but many people in minor accidents fail to take this step, thinking they can just save time by calling the police tomorrow, when they are not in a rush to get home. Don’t make that mistake. Call the police right away, no matter how little damage you perceive there to be. You might be surprised down the line to find that “minor” accident could have cost you thousands of dollars, had it not been properly documented.

Take pictures. Don’t count on the police officers or insurance agents to take pictures for you. Of course, they most likely will document the accident with photos, but you still need your own set of pictures, for your own records. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to pull this off, either. Pull out your smart phone and snap away.

Getting into an automobile accident is a scary thing. Fortunately, there are some very basic things you can do after the fact to ease your physical, mental, and financial pains so that all parties walk away from the fender bender with as little damage as possible.

About the Author: Rob Arlington, FLWD, NAC, CNA works in a phlebotomist training program at a local hospital and contributes to content development at http://www.associationphlebotomytraining.com/. He had an accident on the way home from work one day and the other driver tried to flee the scene without exchanging information or waiting for police, but Rob’s photo of the other car saved the day.

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