Being involved in a motor accident is not something we like to think about, however, this may leave you under-prepared and in a dangerous position if you don’t take the right immediate steps. We’ve put together a guide on what to do next if you’re in the unfortunate situation of having an accident to take out the guesswork for you. Read on to find out what to do.
1. Try To Stay Calm
You’ll first need to turn off the engine of your vehicle and get out of the car if it is safe to do so. Try and remain calm without panicking and move to a safer area. You may have injuries that aren’t yet apparent so use steady steps and try not to impact your body too much. If you accident has occurred on a busy road or highway, move out of the path of other oncoming cars and be careful to avoid them, otherwise, you may sustain further injuries.
2. Call The Necessary People
Call 911 and let them know where you are and what has happened, even if the accident is minor. Contact a lawyer and speak to them about what you should do, especially if you or a loved one have been injured, for example in the case of a large truck or vehicle collision. You can contact a Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer who will be able to assist you. Stay on the scene until the police arrive and give them all of the information about the accident. You must be present until they are there as it is illegal to leave the site of a crash.
3. Take Photos
Taking photos of the scene will give you proof if you make any insurance or legal claims. Make sure you capture the collision from all angles to cover yourself if you are the wronged party, or to minimize any counterclaims if you caused the crash.
4. Swap Details With The Other Party
If you get in an accident then it is important to take the details of the person who you collided with and if they have any injuries. Make sure that you don’t say sorry as this could be seen as an admission of blame which could lead to legal and financial ramifications later down the line. In the same way, don’t apportion blame to the other party or say anything that may lead to an argument.
5. File An Insurance Claim
The sooner you file a claim the better. Contact your insurance company and submit a detailed explanation of the accident and role. Be sure to include pictures and photos of the scene to back up your claim. It’s ideal to put a claim in before the other party to make sure that they don’t attempt a false claim or exaggerate their injuries.
Have you recently been in an accident? Share your experiences in the comments to help others.
Salman is a prolific environmental writer, and has authored more than 500 articles in reputed journals, magazines and websites. He is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management, sustainability and conservation all over the world.
Salman can be reached on salman@cleantechloops.com
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