A car accident could potentially happen anytime you get behind the wheel of a car. And while you likely don't want to think about what would happen if you do get into an accident, it is important to know what you should do in case of an accident. This is particularly true if you are involved in an accident that is clearly your fault. Get to know some of the steps you should take when you are at fault for a car accident. Then, you can be sure you are doing what is best given the situation that you find yourself in.

Call 911 Immediately

While it may be tempting to wait to call the authorities or try to avoid it entirely, calling 911 is the responsible thing to do and can make a major difference if anyone is injured. Do not hesitate or delay calling the authorities. It will make you look negligent or even malicious to all involved, including law enforcement once they get there.

Check to Make Sure Everyone Is Okay

The first step that you will want to take when you have been in a car accident, especially if you are at fault, is to check and see if everyone involved in the crash is okay. Do not apologize for what happened, as you do not necessarily want to admit fault before the police arrive. Simply check on everyone and provide assistance as needed and appropriate.

Showing genuine concern for those involved in the accident will put a good image of you in the minds of the other people involved in the accident. This can actually help you in the long-run as they may decide not to file a personal injury lawsuit against you in civil court if you are kind and considerate after the accident.

Be Honest with the Authorities

There is no point in lying to try to cover up your actions during the accident. If it is clear to everyone that you were at fault for the accident, providing misinformation can result in serious criminal charges against you if you are found to be lying to the police or attempting to obstruct the investigation of the accident.

Be honest and humble. Do not get angry or hostile during questioning. Remain calm and as collected as you can, though being emotional is understandable after a serious accident. The more cooperative you are, the better you will fare if any criminal charges are involved (i.e. if you were texting while driving in a state where it is illegal) as well as in civil cases.

Contact an Attorney

Because you were at fault for the accident, there is a high likelihood that you will be dealing with this issue in depth for several weeks and months to come. You may have to battle your insurance company about paying out for the accident. You may have criminal charges to deal with. And you will likely have personal injury or accident lawsuits to deal with if any of the people involved in the accident sustained significant injuries.

Because all of these issues can be quite complicated and difficult to deal with, it is a good idea to hire a law service, such as Borbi Clancy Patrizi, LLC, to represent you. They will be able to talk to court officials and lawyers, deal with your insurance company, and build a case for you if and when you have to go to court.

Knowing these steps to take when you are at fault for a car accident, you can better handle the situation if it ever happens to you.