There is a reason our local radio stations give updates on the traffic every 10 minutes during rush hour. Hardly a day goes by that there is not a serious accident causing delays on the Saw Mill Parkway, Long Island Expressway, or some other core traffic artery in the tri-state area. It is easy to get annoyed with all the traffic delays, but at the back of your mind, you should have a plan in place for what to do if you are ever in an accident. Below are the three phone calls everyone should make when they are in a car accident. Notify the Authorities The first thing you should do if you are involved in a car accident is call 911. In addition to sending medical help to you if necessary, the dispatcher will be able to call a police officer to the scene of the accident. When the authorities arrive, follow their directions. They deal with car accidents every day, and are trained to handle even the craziest situations. Be sure to wait for the police in a safe place. There are actually a lot of people who get injured by passing vehicles because they are not cautious when they get out of their vehicle after an accident. Contact Your Insurance Company If you are not dealing with injuries, you should contact your insurance provider while you are still at the scene of the accident. Your insurance company will have specific instructions for you to follow, but generally they are going to have to collect information about all the people involved in the accident (including information on passengers and the responding police officer), and take pictures of the scene. Call an Attorney The third call you should make is to an attorney. Because even a simple car accident can raise so many issues it is important to hire a personal injury attorney as quickly as possible. The reason it is important to act quickly is that in today’s world often there are videos that filmed the accident that may be helpful to your case. Witnesses need to be identified and interviewed. The accident scene needs to be inspected and skid marks photographed. The cars may need to be inspected and photographed to document their damage. Police reports need to be obtained. Unfortunately, videos get erased and witnesses may be hard to find. The sooner an investigation is begun the more likelihood it will be to be helpful. If the accident is serious enough accident reconstruction experts may also need to be hired to explain whose fault the accident was based on the physical evidence.