Whether you are the perpetrator or the sufferer, it is necessary to be ready to deal with any road accident. A road accident is the last thing that someone wants to face, although accidents happen to occur quite often. Every year, we witness thousands of traffic accidents and the physical and psychological stress they cause to people. Luckily, most of the car crash accidents are not fatal.
As accidents occur in the blink of an eye, most people can’t think straight at that moment and find themselves in a mess before they know it. Therefore, it is vital to be ready for such situations.
Read on to learn the things you should do if you find yourself involved in a car crash.
1. Be Prepared
As the saying goes, better safe than sorry. Keeping an emergency kit is always a smart idea to be prepared for any unforeseen incident. The emergency kit in your vehicle should at least contain-
- A first aid kit
- A flashlight
- Emergency hammer and seatbelt cutter
- Flares, signal mirror, or reflective triangle
- Fire extinguisher
- Whistle
Of course, you will need your driving license, registration card of the vehicle, and insurance information along with these. These items don’t even take much space, so there is no reason why you won’t carry them with you. Leave them be in your trunk, and you are good to go.
2.Move To Safety
As soon as you find yourself in a car collision, stop your car and make sure everyone involved is safe. Get everyone off the road to avoid further damage.
If you can’t move the car for any reason, turn on your flare or reflective triangle to alert other drivers on the road, or there can be a second accident.
Never run away from the scene even if it is a minor accident. It is both illegal and immoral. Even if the accident is not your fault, this step is necessary.
3.Call For Emergency Assistance
If any member or passenger of your car or the other cars involved, any pedestrian, or anyone around is injured heavily and needs emergency medical attention, stop everything else and call for an ambulance or the emergency personnel who can deliver the required medical assistance. Use your first aid kits. Make sure to help as much as you can and ensure their safety.
4.Call The Police
It is necessary to make a legal accident report, whether it is a major or minor crash. The police will make the necessary records or documents and will help you to recover from the incident. A police report may also be needed for your insurance claims.
5.Document What You Can
After you have reported the incident and things are a bit calm, record as many things as you can about the incident. This is critical because whoever is at fault, when push comes to shove, the story might get changed. Therefore, to protect yourself in such a situation, collect as much evidence as you can.
As evidence, you can take photos or videos from different angles using your cell phone, collect physical evidence, or even write notes. Also, don’t forget to record the time and date, weather conditions, road quality, and any faulty traffic signal.
6.Recognize Eyewitnesses
People who came forward to help in the situation, drivers of the other vehicles, passengers, passersby, or other people who have observed what happened before, during, and after the incident can be your witnesses.
Identify those individuals and record their statements about what they have seen as evidence.
7.Record Proofs Of Damages And Injuries
If your vehicle or other properties are damaged due to a car collision, preserve them as proofs or click pictures of them.
If you are injured, and the injuries are visible, you should take pictures of them too. Although, in most cases after automobile accidents, the injuries become apparent after a day or two. However, the pictures are major evidence, and you will need them for your insurance claim as well.
8.Exchange Information
Generally, the investigating police officers take the information of the persons involved in the accident. In case they are late or do not respond, you should take the information of the drivers, passengers, witnesses, and the other individuals involved. Get their name, phone number, and address, and write them down so that you or your lawyer can contact them in the future when needed.
You may also want to take pictures of the licenses of all the cars involved. You should provide them with your information as well if they want it for the same reason.
9.Communicate With Your Insurance Company
Communicating with your car insurance company straightway after the accident can be highly beneficial. The investigating police officers will give them more precise information. In fact, in some companies, it is obligatory.
However, do not talk with the other party’s insurance company. They may try to manipulate you to take information or statements from you. No matter what they say, you are not obliged to give them any statements. They can twist your words and make the incident look like your fault or partly your fault in order to protect their insured. So, be careful!
10.Preserve Your Rights
After the accident, meet your auto accident lawyer. Your lawyer will help you protect your rights and will ensure that the acquired evidence is protected. Some insurance companies claim statements straight away after the accident. Getting legal advice from a lawyer prior to such statements is very helpful.
Moreover, a lawyer can help you get the best medical treatment and the full recompense for your vehicle.
The most important thing after an accident is to remain calm. Do not be angry and never start an argument. This will make the situation more complicated and acquiring information from the other party will get harder.
When it is your fault, the other party might start yelling. Even in such situations, you should remain as calm and polite as possible.
Lastly, we would suggest you drive carefully and be focused to avoid any collision. Be safe!