Car accidents are a part of owning a car. No matter how hard you try or how good your driving skills are, you will likely have an accident at some point. It might not be the twenty car pile-up that you see on the news, but it will still shake your confidence. And, you will need to respond to the accident regardless of the severity.
That is the thing that worries people the most – the response. How should you respond just after an accident? The people that can answer that are the ones that have been there. The rest of you are the lucky ones that haven’t had the pleasure. If you want to know how to deal with a car accident, you need to follow this helpful guide. The tips below will walk you through the process so that the incident isn’t traumatic.
Always Stop
Even if it is a fender bender, you need to stop and pull over to the side of the road in a safe place. The same goes for the other car. The best way to respond to an accident, no matter the significance, is to log it with both parties. Sometimes, you think nothing will come from a scrape, and then you end up with a letter from a personal injury lawyer. There are even scams where drivers will crash with you on purpose for the insurance money. When you stop and analyze the damage, you can prevent these types of schemes.
Check For Injuries
If the accident was a bad one, passengers in the car might be hurt. If this is the case, they need medical attention. Don’t try and give them medical aid yourself because that is a job for the paramedics. Your job is to analyze their condition and see if they need a doctor. Start by checking whether they are conscious. If they are, ask them if they are injured or whether they are fine. Their response will give you an insight into their condition. For those that are unconscious, call the emergency services as soon as possible.
Call The Police
Whether you want to press charges or shake hands and drive away, you need to contact the police. The police will either come to the scene of the accident or give you instructions on how to act next. It is essential, however, that you speak to them be it in person or over the phone. The phone call is proof that you were in an accident, and that may come in handy in the future. Plus, they will need to secure the road and make sure it is safe for other drivers.
Give Your Details
When the police turn up to the scene of the accident, they will take your details. Please don’t lie to them or refuse to give them your details. It sounds silly, but people do this because they think it is the best course of action. It isn’t because it makes you seem guilty or like you have something to hide. Your only course of action is to tell them your name and full address so that they can check your details. You should also give them a phone number so that they can contact you if they have any follow-up questions. People that make the police’s job difficult also make their lives much harder.
Get The Other Driver’s Details
The police will take their details, but you need a copy for insurance purposes. The chances are that you will get the insurance to pick up the tab. After all, that is why you pay for it in the first place. But, they won’t do that unless they have all the details of the opposing driver. They will need their name, their address, their car details, and their insurance details. If they give them to the police, they should have no concerns about giving them to you. At the end of the day, they are details you can easily find with a little bit of digging. The people that don’t provide them are the ones that are dodgy. Usually, they don’t have any insurance.
Take Pictures
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you could end up in court. You or the other driver may file a lawsuit, which means you may have to pay them compensation. This is where it is vital that you take pictures. Unfortunately, there is only you and the other driver that was involved in the accident. That means it is your word against theirs, so you need to prove your innocence. Pictures of the accident will do just that. The pictures will show the extent of the crash and also show who was in the wrong. These are a lifesaver, so never forget to snap a few pics.
Call Your Insurance Company
The sooner you talk to your insurance, the better. When they know about the accident, they can help you sort through the process. Give them the information they need and wait for their response. Most companies will come to a conclusion in a matter of days, and they will inform you of that decision in due course. Whatever decision they come to, it is important that you know about it as soon as possible. That gives you the best chance to react. At the least, you know where you stand.
Call A Personal Injury Lawyer
Web pages such as http://djhernandez.com/personal-injury/auto-accidents and http://findlaw.co.uk/law are good places to start. After all, finding a good injury lawyer isn’t an easy task. Talking to a lawyer is responsible because you don’t know the extent of your injuries. Some injuries, like whiplash, occur out of the blue. If you suffer an injury in a crash, you could be entitled to compensation.
Get Someone To Drive You Home
Never drive home after a crash. The smallest crashes can affect your nerves. And, nerves affect your safety behind the wheel. Phone a friend or a family member to come and pick you up and drive you home.
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