A quick search on Google can give you a useful overview of the number of car accidents in the last five years. The numbers are extremely high, varying from 35,000 to 40,000. Not all car accidents have deadly outcomes, and in most cases, people stay unharmed with minor injuries. However, no matter the final outcome of the accident, we advise taking several steps in the process to ensure your safety and protect your rights.
Make sure no one is seriously injured
In the case of a car crash, it is important to make sure all the parties involved are in good health and have not sustained any serious injuries. The first step to take is to determine the well-being of all the people involved. By law, we are obliged to engage in the case of someone’s injury and make sure the person is saved, by stopping the bleeding if possible or dragging someone out of the car if it has caught fire. We also should never flee the scene of an accident, as such actions will only cause harm to our case and make us look guilty, even if innocent. Therefore, we advise staying at the scene of the accident until the police and the ambulance arrive. Until then, just make sure to move the car, in the case of a minor accident, so other cars can pass by freely. This also means putting on your lights and any emergency triangle to alert other cars of the accident and making sure any sharp objects are removed from the road to prevent any damage done to other cars.
Contacting a lawyer
The whole experience can prove quite traumatic, no matter if you have experienced it before or if it is your first time. Contacting your lawyer should be of the utmost importance in such cases, as it guarantees your safety and prevents any possible usurpation of your basic rights. As the folks at https://horne.law explain, the whole experience can have numerous impacts. There is the medical aspect; any serious injury should be treated as such. Then again, you have to consider all the payments that must be made. This can prove quite burdensome, especially as you’ll not be able to work for a period of time. And finally, the impact it can have on your day-to-day life is another thing to consider, as you might be experiencing stress episodes due to the sustained trauma. With all this said, ensuring your rights are met is only possible with the help of your lawyer as he/she will do their best to achieve this exact goal.
Taking evidence
After the accident, if you are not seriously harmed and remain conscious, we advise taking evidence of the accident via your cell phone and making videos or photos. Also, make sure to gather any necessary evidence regarding the accident afterward, such as all the paperwork (police reports, witness statements, medical reports, etc.), as it will help your case later on. Therefore, only follow these steps if you feel right in mind and are not under the influence of the whole traumatic experience.
Avoid discussing anything with the involved party
Sometimes, minutes after the accident, if no harm was done to anyone involved, the other party might approach and engage in “side-road talk” about the whole incident. They might even go as far as blaming you, or in other cases, they might try to put the blame on weather conditions and other factors involved. Whatever the case may be, avoid this kind of discussion and make sure to only share information and details with authorized personnel while leaving any “negotiations” to the court. These “tricks” may work on naive people, but keep in mind that if someone approaches you to discuss what happened, chances are they are well aware of their part in everything.
Let yourself be examined by a doctor
Make sure to seek medical help immediately afterward to avoid any further complications. The medical report is quite useful afterward and is often a part of the whole case against the insurance company. You might even experience symptoms, which can occur weeks after the accident. Therefore, let yourself be examined, and don’t take any second chances when it comes to your health.
Call someone to pick you up
This goes without saying, but in the case of an accident, it would be smart to call someone (friends or family) to pick you up and a tow truck for the car. Have someone close and available on your speed dial and inform the person closest to you about what has happened. They can also provide emotional comfort and consolation.
The whole experience can be traumatic, so you could also try seeking out a therapist and discussing the details of the accident to improve your mental health. Remember, your health comes first and then everything else.
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