Three Essential Things to Remember When You’ve Been in a Car Crash
Posted by admin at 1 November 2019, at 16 : 26 PM
The time immediately after being in a car accident is super important, though the infamous brain fog could make it difficult to know how to act in your best interests. It’s likely that there will be hundreds of questions flooding your mind.
One of the most effective ways to make sure that you do all the right things in the important moments immediately after a car accident is to be prepared. Knowing ahead of time what you will do in the event of a car crash, the correct handling of the accident aftermath will come more naturally to you.
If you take care to keep yourself and others safe on the road, the chances of being in an accident or less. That said, sometimes accidents just happen. Here’s what you need to do in the moments following a road accident, both at the roadside, and also when you get home.
Stop Your Car
Even if you barely felt the bump, it is the law that you must pull over onto the roadside and stop your car after having been involved in a car incident. This law applies to everybody, regardless of the severity of the crash. Switch off your engine and flick on those hazard lights to warn other vehicles that your car is stationary.
A Few Important Phone Calls
The first thing you should find out after an accident is whether anyone was hurt in the collision. If there have been Car Accident Injuries, immediately call the ambulance as well as the police. You should inform the police if either of the cars came to rest in such as way as to obstruct traffic flow, as the vehicles will need to be moved out of the way quickly so that other cars can continue to use the road safely. Another crucial reason to telephone the police while you’re standing at the roadside is if you have reason to think you have been a victim of a crash-for-cash scam or slam on. If your car has struck the other car in the rear after they had suddenly slammed on brakes (for no apparent reason) it’s worth making the police aware of this. Inform your insurance provider, too, as you may otherwise see a fraudulent claim being made against your motor insurance policy.
Take Photographs
Even if you think you will remember everything about the crash (hint: you probably won’t, as you’re going to be in a daze for a while!) it’s crucial that you take photos of both cars. These photos may prove to be extremely helpful to your insurance company when the time comes to decide on liability. Their decision may come down to visible damage sustained by the cars in the collision, as well as the positions in which they came to rest, especially if it was a pile up. Your photos will also reveal other relevant details, like weather conditions at the time of the crash.
Nobody expects that they will be involved in a traffic accident, but of course, many people are involved in car crashes every single day. If you find yourself in this situation, it can be extremely stressful, and it’s easy to make a simple mistake or forget a crucial point. These tips will help you do what’s in your best interests.