Every country in the world experiences over six million car accidents annually. Consequently, millions of people also die from these accidents. While you can survive death, unhurt, or reasonably hurt, you can also suffer permanent injuries that may completely transform your life. If you are ever involved in a car crash, these are the 4 essential steps you need to take after a car crash:
1. Assess The Resulting Injuries
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The initial step you should take after you are involved in a car crash is to keep calm and keep yourself safer from more harm and injuries. If you are driving immediately turn on the hazard lights and pull your vehicle to a safer place out of traffic if possible. Come out of the car and remain at the accident scene. If you are unsure about where to move your car to, wait for the police to guide you.
Once you feel safe enough you can assess your injuries. Determine whether you need emergency medical attention and if your answer is yes, immediately contact the 911 police emergency number so that the relevant authorities can send you emergency responders. If you do not need an emergency medical service, be good enough to check the condition of your fellow driver and passengers to check if they are well and whether they need urgent medical care so that you can facilitate it.
However, that you are not feeling pain immediately, should not convince you that you have not suffered any injuries. Remember that your adrenaline hormone works overtime in such times of anxiety and wreck and this can prevent you from realizing you have suffered serious injuries. These realizations will always come later when you are calmer. While still at the scene of the accident call the police and inform them of the accident. Ensure you file an official report with the police.
However, as you wait for the police, do not discuss the accident with your fellow drivers or by-passers lest you admit liability and you will soon be in for it. Remember the accident report you file with the police can serve as critical evidence in case you decide to seek compensation. It can help your attorney to evaluate the legality of your case.
All the same ensure the report has all the details it should have including the parties involved, the scene of the accident, and the details of the vehicles involved. If you can get the badge and identification details of the police investigating officer and the report number of your accident the better for you as all these details will facilitate your filing of a compensation claim.
Further, while still at the accident scene, gather all the details that you could need for your claim. Get the name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, insurance details, and license plate number of your fellow driver. Get the names and phone numbers of eyewitnesses as they can help you testify in a court of law.
Note the place and date of the accident including the exact time when the same happened. Indicate the direction you were heading to and the direction the other car you hit was heading to. Note the road you were on and the street number. Make your report self-explanatory by including a recollection of what happened and the driving conditions including whether you had your indicator on and the speed you were driving at.
2. Call Your Lawyer
As you wait for the police to arrive, and as you continue to gather details of the accident, call your lawyer and inform him/her what has happened. You can also get in contact with a reputable attorney by searching online for ‘car accident lawyer near me‘ or other such similar terms. Your lawyer can advise you on the immediate steps to take including informing you of all the details you should gather while at the accident scene so that you can increase your chances of receiving accurate compensation.
Going by the advice given by the Jackson Car Accident Lawyer, calling your lawyer while at the scene of the accident can enable you to record all the information you will need to file a compensation claim. Your lawyer can advise you on whether it is appropriate for you to take photos of the injuries you have suffered and those of your damaged car so that they can serve as evidence in a court of law.
3. Contacting Your Insurance Company
Let your insurance company representative know that you have been involved in a car crash. Try as much as you can to contact your insurer while you are still at the scene of the accident so that in case he/she needs further details of the accident, the police at the scene can supply these details. The police deal with such cases therefore and they can give your insurer all the information that may be needed to facilitate your compensation.
4. Seek Medical Attention
It is wise to get appropriate medical attention before it’s too late. Let your doctor assess you for any internal injuries and bleeding as they can be worse than physical injuries. Also remember to record all the details of your medical visit including the hospital’s name, the doctor’s name, the treatment type, and the particular drugs you are served.
Follow the above steps sequentially to increase your chances of being compensated. Your lawyer will need medical records and a police accident report to evaluate your case so gather all the relevant details. California allows motorcycle riders to split lanes. This means that motorcyclists are allowed to ride between lanes of traffic. This can be helpful in congested areas where it can be difficult to make progress. It also allows motorcyclists to avoid obstacles in the road. However, it is important to be aware of your surroundings when splitting lanes and to be cautious of other drivers.
