No one wants to be involved in a car accident but sometimes they are inevitable. Someone might crash into your car while driving out of the blue.
Driving is for many people such a mundane activity that they forgot how dangerous it actually is. It is vital to always be alert if you are to avoid most accidents.
Getting into a car accident is a traumatic experience that may affect you for years to come. Knowing what to do beforehand should significantly help you handle the situation better.
It is important that you remain calm and collected if you are involved in a road accident of any kind. The following is what you should do when someone crashes into your beloved car while you are on the road:
Safety
The first thing you should after someone crashes into you on the road is to ensure your safety. There is nothing more paramount than your health and safety in such a situation.
Depending on the nature of the collision, you might be knocked unconscious. If you are not, you should ensure that you are able to move and get to safety.
Evaluate your surroundings and make sure that the car is not compromised. If it is, you will have to act fast to avoid any hazards for example a leaking fuel line that may lead to an explosion.
You should also check if others involved in the accident are safe if you are mobile. ensure that they are not in any immediate danger and give first aid if necessary. You may end up saving a life.
Call the Authorities
After you have ensured your safety and checked for injuries, the next step will be to report the accident to the authorities. You should call the emergency number as soon as you can.
If you are in a populated area, then other people will probably call the police after the accident. Calling emergency services ensures that you will also receive medical attention if you need it.
You will need to file a police report and explain what happened. It is crucial that you get your version of events on paper as there will be opposing stories.
Calling the police does not assure you that they will come. If no one is hurt, you can basically drive away and file a police report later.
Contact a Lawyer
There are always legal repercussions when you are involved in a car accident. You will either be on the right or the wrong side of the law in an accident.
You should contact a lawyer as soon as you can after someone crashes into you. Click here to find out how you can file a lawsuit after a car accident. The lawyer will be very helpful in helping you with your lawsuit.
If you have a personal attorney, you should call them. If not, you will need to find a personal injury or car accident, attorney.
The lawyer will help you throughout the entire process especially as it pertains to receiving compensation from the insurance company or the guilty driver.
Collect Information
If you are not severely injured in the car crash, you should be able to move around the accident scene. You should collect as much information about the accident as you can.
Use your smartphone to take pictures and video of the accident site before it has been altered in any way. You will use these documents as evidence when there is a legal case or receive compensation from the insurance company.
You should also put details about the accident in writing. Write a vivid description of your version of events as soon as possible while your memory is still fresh.
Contact Information
Finally, you will need to collect the contact information of anyone who was involved in the accident. The first set of information you should get is of the driver who crashed your car on the road.
If they are hurt or unconscious, you may check their vehicle or pockets for contact information. Having this information will significantly help you deal with the aftermath of the accident.
You should also get the contact information of any witnesses that were present during the accident. They will be indispensable if the case goes to trial.
The time after a car accident is crucial but it is difficult to maintain your wit. If you are able, do the five things outlined above and you should be fine. The court case and insurance investigation that follow will all depend on how you handle yourself after the accident.
