Being in a car accident can be a terrifying thing but in the unfortunate event that you are in one, it’s a good idea to be informed on what to do and how to proceed. There are a few things you can do to ensure your safety and if you were wronged in the scenario, to obtain compensation for the trauma and damages you were put through. The following are a few things you can do immediately after being in a car accident.
Secure The Scene
As soon as you’re in an accident stop where you are. Just completely stop in the exact same position the accident happened in. This prevents from changing the surrounding environment from its original state at the time of the accident and makes it easier for you to gather evidence when you’re reporting it. Switch on your headlights and tail lights to prevent any other accidents from occurring and to let other drivers know that you’ve been in an accident and have stopped as such.
Inform The Police
After you’ve parked you’re car securely, the next thing to do is contact the police. Even if it’s a small accident with no major injuries on either party it’s still the best thing to have the police called in order to have the accident investigated. And especially regarding matters of insurance of your vehicle it’s better to have the police on the scene. It’s easier to claim any damages for your accident if they’re involved.
Report The Accident
Once the police are on the scene report the accident to them. Spare no details. Even if it was in some part your fault it’s better to tell the authorities the complete story. Explain in elaborate detail the events leading up to the accident and make a statement about your injuries. If it’s possible, procure image evidence of the aftermath of the accident from your phone before the arrival of the police. If the police is not involved make sure you get all the details of the other party involved in the accident such as their name, address and phone number, license plate number of the car in case you need to contact them later in order to settle claims or give a statement.
Seek Medical Attention
In the case of an accident immediately get medical help. Even if you’ve suffered minor injuries and you believe you have no reason to make an exhausting trip to the emergency room, please make sure you do. It’s of the utmost importance. You may have suffered internal injuries on the impact that you weren’t aware of and that can later make an appearance in a life-threatening situation. So make it a top priority to have medical personnel have you cleared up of all serious injuries.
Contact Your Attorney
The final step of things to do after being in an accident is to contact your attorney. There are compensation lawyers brisbane and Canberra to take care of damage claims and other insurance-related issues. Have your insurance documents and facts in order to successfully file a complaint and claim your damages.
While we all hope that being in an accident is something that’ll never happen to us, in the event that it does happen, it’s good to be prepared and informed on what to do.
