So you have been driving for some time now, and everything is going smoothly – however, have you ever wondered what would happen if you were to ever get into a car accident? The truth about life is that it is filled with unexpected circumstances, and accidents are included.
That said, the question is what you were to do if you got caught in an accident – irrespective of whether it is your fault or someone else’s fault – you should know your best options if this ever happens.
So, here are the things that you should do if you were to become a victim of a car accident:
Stop the Car
The first step is to stop the car immediately. Don’t make the mistake of stopping the car in the middle of the road as it can lead to more damage. Make sure you park your car on the side of the road, so the traffic keeps flowing. Once you have stopped the car, turn on the car’s indicator.
Get Out & Assess the Situation
Once you have stopped the car and turned on the indicator, the next thing that you should do is to get out and assess the situation. Firstly, assess if you have company in the car and other passengers. Then get out of the car and see whether someone is injured. If you see injured passengers in other cars, you might want to call the police and the ambulance right away.
Provide first aid if you can and wait for the ambulance to arrive.
Call the Law Enforcement
You should call the police immediately – even if it is a hit-and-run case. Give the police accurate details about where the accident happened and the current situation. Once you have completed the call, you may wait beside your car for the police and help to arrive at the accident site.
Collect Data & Evidence
While you wait for the ambulance and police to arrive, make sure to collect as much evidence and data as possible, including the names and addresses of all people involved in the accident. You might as well record telephone numbers and license plates. Most importantly, record the driver’s license numbers of all drivers involved in the car accident.
If you don’t have a notepad and pen to jot everything down, you can use your cellphone and camera efficiently. Don’t forget to take pictures of the damage done to your car and the accident site. The collected evidence is crucial for your work related accident lawyers as well.
Call Your Lawyer
After collecting evidence and data, you might want to get in touch with your car accident lawyer and tell them about the entire situation. Doing so will also ensure that your insurance company knows about the accident. If your car is damaged or you have suffered from injuries, your lawyer will ensure that you get duly compensated by the party who caused the accident in the first place.
More importantly, stay calm and don’t get indulged in an unnecessary argument with other drivers involved in the accident.
