Without a doubt, being involved in a car accident can be an extremely stressful ordeal that affects people even months after it happens. This being said, car accidents are extremely frequent and it’s likely that you may have already experienced one or two in your life.
Injuries sustained from car accidents can range from standard whiplash to life-threatening conditions. When you are involved in a motor vehicle crash, it’s important that you know what to do. In this blog, we’ll be exploring what you should do when involved in a car accident.
Stop The Vehicle
The first thing you need to do is stop your vehicle and speak to the other drivers involved in the accident. If you drive off after being in a car crash, this could be considered a felony and you could even be arrested.
Check For Injuries
More importantly, you need to check and see if anyone has been severely injured. If so, make sure to call for medical attention immediately. You may even require a lawyer to help you with an injury compensation claim, in which case you should head over to Topresearched.com.
Switch Hazard Lights On
You don’t want your accident to cause any more chaos on the road, so you should switch your hazard warning on and move all vehicles to the side. Follow the necessary steps, such as placing reflective triangles approximately 200m before your vehicle and wearing your high vis jacket.
Call the Police
Even if the accident isn’t catastrophic, it’s always a good idea to call the police. The rule of thumb is that police should be called when property damages exceed the $1,000 mark. Although this figure varies by state. Having an objective third party present at the scene is helpful as they can mediate.
Take Pictures of the Scene
The more photographic evidence you have of the accident the better. This will help your insurance company make a claim and your lawyer create a case. Don’t just take photos of the vehicles, include images of damages to the environment and physical injuries.
Write Down All the Details
If you do decide to take the case to court, you should write down all the details as soon as the accident happens. These things tend to happen very quickly, so it’s best to get a hold of the details whilst they are still fresh in your mind.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Finally, you’ll need to let your insurance company know that you’ve been involved in a car accident. It does not matter whether the accident was your fault or not, they should be contacted immediately.
As with any major accident, your emotions may be running high. However, it’s important that you try to remain as calm as possible. If you lose your temper, this could be used against you in a court of law. Don’t admit fault and avoid coming across as an aggressive person, simply keep to yourself and follow the procedure.
