Here’s What to Do Immediately When Involved in an Accident
Being involved in an accident can be one of the most frightening days of your life. In a second everything is different and you’re dealing with the sort of problem you don’t really have time for. The following will explore some of the things you need to do the moment you get involved in a car accident.
Move to Safety
Before anything else, it’s a good idea to get yourself and those in your vehicle out of further harm’s way. If you’re able to pull the car over to the side of the road, do that. If you’re not, make sure everyone is somewhere safe. This goes not only for you but for the other vehicles involved in the accident.
Administer First Aid
If anyone needs immediate medical attention within your skillset, see to that. This could mean applying pressure on bleeding wounds or wrapping people in coats or blankets if it’s cold out. It’s usually a good idea not to move someone if you don’t fully know what’s wrong with them.
Don’t Leave the Scene
Leaving the scene of an accident before law enforcement or emergency responders get there is a crime. You might end up with a hefty fine or some more serious consequences if someone is injured. Once people are moved to safety and any immediate medical needs are seen, call 9-1-1. The operator will be able to send all required professionals to the scene.
Share Information
If more than one party is involved in the accident, you’ll need to exchange information. You want the driver’s name, insurance policy information, license plate number, and license information. They’ll want the same from you. Do your best to keep this conversation short and to the point. You’re both shaken up and emotional but now is not the time to vent these frustrations. Anything you say might end up being used against you later on in insurance decisions or legal proceedings. If the other party refuses, don’t argue, wait for the police.
Gather Evidence
The police will be writing up an accident report, but you should also be gathering your own evidence. You want photographs up close to damages but you also want wide shots showing the entire layout of the accident. If there are any witnesses, you can speak to them and get their contact information or ask for a written statement.
Seek Out Legal Counsel
Before you get into talks with insurance providers, speak to a legal professional. Furthermore, a personal injury attorney will be able to look at all the information and recommend the best course of action for you, given the context of your accident. Far too often people get in a tight situation where their interests aren’t being properly considered after a collision.
Stay Off Social Media
Unless specifically instructed by an attorney, don’t post anything about the incident on your social media pages. Ideally, don’t interact at all, at least not until your case has been sorted. Anything you post, share, like, comment on, or interact with can be used against you in a court of law.
The above steps are only the beginning, but they should get your accident recovery off on the right foot. If you are noticing emotional barriers to returning to your everyday life post-accident, reach out to a mental health professional. Post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental struggles are extremely common after living through a car accident.
