How your cellphone can help you after a serious crash

When you think of cellphones and cars, you probably think of distracted driving. For years now, accident rates related to drivers engaged with their phones instead of their surroundings have been a real risk for people on the road. Cellphones are a primary source of distraction. However, not all cellphone use in a car is a bad thing. In the immediate aftermath of a collision with another vehicle or a crash, a mobile phone can provide critical assistance.

Proper use of a cellphone in the aftermath of a crash can help ensure you receive the assistance you need and also protect your ability to file an insurance claim in the near future. Carrying your phone in your car can absolutely be a safety precaution, so long as you don’t get distracted by it while you’re driving.

Mobile phones help ensure faster emergency response

There was a time when a passerby would need to drive to the closest home or business to use a phone after a crash. That could mean a substantial delay in getting help from paramedics and other emergency responders. Thankfully, cellphones help streamline the process of getting medical treatment.

You can call within seconds of the accident for help. If the accident didn’t result in major injuries, your phone can even help you look up the local non-emergency number to get police help without calling 911. If there is a need for immediate first aid, you can likely find tutorials or video online to help while waiting for fire or medical personnel.

Mobile phones can document critical details

Is the other driver trying to toss items out of the vehicle or switching seats with a passenger? If you can videotape that happening, it can help you prove your version of events. Taking a video of suspicious behavior, such as pouring out drinks or deleting information from a phone can also help.

Similarly, there are often situations that require one or both vehicles get moved after the crash. Perhaps you’re near a blind spot. If there’s a risk of another car hitting your vehicles, one or more may need to move before police arrive. It’s also possible that you have to move away from the vehicles for medical or safety reasons. Having pictures or video of the place of the vehicles after the crash can help prove what happened. It can also help you file an insurance claim.

Your mobile phone can document a person fleeing the scene of a collision or injuries to yourself or the people in your vehicle. That information can help you when law enforcement arrive. Many times, if drivers know they are at fault, they may try to change the story for police. Having picture or video evidence to substantiate your version of events can prove very helpful in some cases.