Given the volume of traffic in this day and age, it is no surprise to hear about road accidents every once in a while. But you have to know that these things are pretty common and have nothing to do with how good a driver you are. Mistakes can occur anytime and accidents can be completely unpredictable.
So, it is not out of the ordinary to get into a car accident. But oftentimes people panic, which again is an involuntary reaction, and things might seem out of your hands but you need to stay calm and assess the situation for your own benefit.
If you own a car and are a regular driver then it will not hurt to know about the following things that you need to do after a car wreck. Maybe one or two of these might help you out in such an unfortunate event.
Here is the list of five things that you need to after a car accident:
Check For Injuries
Alright, I know what you are thinking- This is obvious. But you have to understand how crucial this is. Many a time people just try to focus on the external injuries but there might be a certain internal injury which you might not be instantly aware of or might not have the mental capacity to look for such things if you find an external wound. One of the most common injuries is a concussion. These can be dangerous as the effects take time to appear.
It is basically your brain getting jiggled in your skull after you hit your head. You might not feel much pain but if you can remember that you hit your head make it your primary concern to seek medical help as soon as possible since concussions can be very bad. Other common injuries are neck injuries, chest injuries, facial injuries etc.
Another thing that many people don’t know about is that depending on the severity of the accident, you may need to see a therapist. A trauma like that can affect a person psychologically and hence you need to be sure that you don’t have any psychological injuries.
Consider Hiring An Attorney
Car or truck accidents can leave serious damage for the victims involved. Even if you are careful mishaps do happen and sometimes they can be serious. Hiring an experienced attorney is necessary to ensure your rights are enforced and that you are compensated for your injuries.
Attorneys will help you understand the legal side of things and will let you know who will pay your medical bills, etc. It is always a good idea to hire an attorney since they have a better understanding of the law and will do the legwork for you. If you hire a personal injury attorney, many get paid only if they successfully prove your claim; this will help you as there are often no upfront costs.
Notify The Police
This one of the prime things to keep in mind. Most of the time people are so distracted with injuries and damages (rightly so) that they forget about this. But you need to notify the authorities as soon as possible. You need to have the scene of the accident documented in a legal report.
Even if the accident is a minor one and no one is seriously injured it is advisable to do so. It ensures that anyone who has any kind of involvement in the accident is protected. It will also benefit you to call the authorities in case a lawsuit is filed in the future.
These reports are very important both for your lawyer and also for the insurance company that you will file your claim with.
Document The Accident
Documentation of the incident takes a higher priority when the damage is serious. Since if the fingers start point in the wrong direction and facts start becoming based on hearsay then things can get out of hand. If you can operate your smartphone camera snap as many pictures as you can from various angles that can document the damage done and can provide a full picture of the entire event.
Be sure to take an image of the license plate of both yours and the other person’s car. It is also highly important that you document your personal injuries and your medical bills. The damage photos might be required by the insurance company even though they will send a surveyor to survey the damages.
Unfortunately, mishaps do happen and one needs to be ready for them.
The above points should be kept in mind if one faces such an unfortunate event.