If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you might remember a strange feeling of disorientation. You may also have felt that fresh surge of energy from the shock pumping adrenaline into your brain. Perhaps you can still see the actual crash clearly in your mind, but the rest of it, the events that followed are just a blur, a lost memory. Of course, if you’ve never been in an accident none of this will sound familiar and you may have no idea how to handle a situation like this. Don’t worry, we can walk you through everything you need to know.
When The Car Stops…
If you have crashed on the road it is important to put your hazard lights on if you can. You need to do this in the hope of warning motorists that might be approaching you from behind. Chances are they’ll notice your car in the middle of the road. But You’d be surprised how often an accident is made worse by other cars joining the collision.
Once you have done this, you should check for any injuries. Be aware that due to adrenaline you may not always feel the pain of a serious injury. You also need to try and move as little as possible. If you have any spinal or neck damage moving could make it worse.
You also need to check that everyone else in the car is okay. If they’re not don’t panic, help will be there soon.
Don’t Leave The Vehicle
If you have crashed on the main road, it might not be safe to leave the vehicle. Again, you could make your injury worse, or you might even be hit by an oncoming car. Unless the car is on fire, it will always be safer to stay in the vehicle, even though it might not seem like it. You should not start playing hero, attempting to rescue or help other motorists. If it is safe to leave the car, you can check on other people involved. However, you should not attempt to move them or offer them treatment unless you are trained with first aid knowledge.
Don’t Forget
You need to try and keep as many of the details of the accident clear in your mind. If there is even the slightest possibility someone could blame you for the accident, you need to know exactly what happened. A lawsuit for an accident such as this could be brought forward weeks or even months later, and you have to be prepared. When you get home, write down as much as you can remember. The best lawyer for a car accident will always ask about your account first before setting up a defense. Don’t forget, you’ll also need this information if you plan on bringing a claim forward.
Finally, Think About The Car
The car should be your last concern. Think about your safety, then the legal ramifications and after that, you can start looking at the damage to the car. It’s possible that the car has been totaled. If that’s the case, your insurance company won’t pay for it to be repaired. But, that doesn’t mean you have to write the car off if it has sentimental value. You can pay to get it back in working order yourself, out of your own pocket. However, it is important to make sure that there are no issues with it before you take it back out on the road.
