Car accidents are believed to be a common everyday occurrence on the road. They can happen at any given time, and when they do, it`s also almost always the case that the people involved are rarely prepared for it. No matter how careful of a driver you may be, it may not be the case for all the other motorists. There are still just as many reckless drivers who don`t give a care at all as to the possible damages they may inflict on other drivers and people around them. If you aren`t convinced, then these car accident stats and safety tips should give you insights into how frequent car accidents happen.
While you can`t prevent an accident from happening, you can, however, control its possible outcome. This means staying safe right after the accident so that no further damages or injuries may happen. With this, you can lead yourself towards a faster road to recovery.
Here are some of the five safety tips you must remember when you get involved in a car accident:
1. Stop Immediately
Halt immediately right after the collision or the accident. But make sure to not block and disrupt traffic. It’s very important for you to stay on the scene of the accident and not even try to run away from it.
Right at the get-go, it may seem as if you`re moving away from your accident unscathed. But you never know the real extent of the damage on the inside of your body, for instance, particularly if the collision and its impact were significant. Also, running away from the accident scene may only put you in even more danger and trouble with the law.
Be sure to position your car on the safe side of the road or to not move at all until the authorities and the paramedics arrive.
2. Protect The Scene Of The Incident
If you can safely get yourself out of your vehicle, then you have to work together with everyone else involved in the accident to protect the accident scene. The actual scene may contain useful information for insurance and legal purposes. This is all the more necessary if the accident happened at night and incoming motorists may not be able to clearly see your damaged car.
Protecting the scene entails putting the needed warning signs to alert oncoming motorists who aren`t yet aware that an accident has just happened. By doing so, you can prevent further collision with other motorists where the extent of the accident may escalate further.
Depending on the laws of your local state or area, you may be liable for damage done on other drivers unless you`re able to show proof that the necessary warnings have been made.
3. Don`t Panic
This third tip may seem like a piece of obvious advice, but you never really know the extent of how you`re going to react right after an accident. Because of the sudden surge of adrenaline rushing through your body as a result of the collision, it`s said that it`s normal for some people to be in a frenzy of panic.
As much as you can, however, keep yourself calm and level-headed. When you do so, you can think better as to what your next course of action should be. Most importantly, you may also be able to avoid furthering any more damage or injury to those originally incurred during the initial accident.
4. Phone The Police
Even if the accident may only seem minor and there aren`t any apparent visible injuries, this doesn`t mean that you shouldn`t alert the local authorities. The police have to be informed about the accident so that a proper and official record can be made and filed.
Especially if you were the victim, remember that the police record is almost always needed when filing for legal claims. If you don`t have that, then it`ll be difficult for you to pursue legal action and exact the justice that you deserve. Your lawyer, no matter how good they may be, will always need the aid of supporting documents to strengthen your case for it to stand in court.
5. Assist Any Other Injured Passengers
If you`re able to move around and you feel perfectly fine after the incident, do your best to be of help to others who may be more severely injured than you are. Pace around the accident area and assess the extent of the injury which other passengers may have. If somebody needs help, do your best to lend a hand.
For instance, you may have first aid training and a kit with you in your car. Now’s a good time to put that training to good use and apply first aid on any passenger who needs it. Time is regarded to be of the essence and it can make all that difference when first aid was provided to an ailing patient or if none at all was administered.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you want to have a speedy recovery from your accident, it`s very important always to stay on the safe side. Bear in mind that you didn`t have control over the accident from happening. But you can influence its outcome.
Apart from seeking medical advice, you must also make it a point to have a lawyer helping you with your legal claims. With one, you can focus on your recovery and help you not worry about other aspects of the incident.
