7 Things To Do In Case Of A Car Accident
You are comfortably driving to work in your car and suddenly a car rams in from the behind. It not only damages the car but also leaves you with an injury. What do you do now? This is an unfortunate event and there are certain steps you need to take immediately. Here are the things you should do in case of a car accident.
Stop immediately
The first thing you need to do is stop and move the car off the road. Keep the passengers and yourself off the road. Do not stay in the vehicle as there is a danger that another vehicle might run into you. If you fail to stop after an accident or fail to give details to the police, you are making a serious offense.
Warn others
You need to ensure that other drivers do not get into an accident. Hence, warn them of obstruction by switching on the hazard lights. If it is night, you need to warn them of the oncoming traffic of the danger through a torch. Try your best to keep other drivers safe.
Seek medical assistance
If you or anyone in the car is injured, you need to call for an ambulance or an air ambulance at https://www.airambulance1.com/ and the police. In this situation, it is important to give first aid only. Do not move the injured person unless it is necessary to do so and do not leave him alone. If you have been injured, you need to get first aid immediately and ask someone to call your family and inform the police.
Call the police
When there is an injury or damage to property, you need to call the police. Do not say anything which can be interpreted as an admission of guilt and do not agree to pay for the damages or sign any papers. Justin Kimball from Preszler Law of Nova Scotia says that a personal injury lawsuit can help car accident victims receive monetary compensation from the party at fault for their injuries. Let the police and insurance company decide who was at fault.
Gather evidence
You need to move the vehicle to unblock the road and take photographs of the scene if you have a camera or a mobile phone. Check if there are any witnesses to the accident and take their names and addresses. If they refuse to give the name, you can note down the registration number. Do not reveal how much insurance coverage you have and do not share any other unnecessary details. You need to provide a detailed report to the police and ensure that it is recorded by an officer on duty. Get a copy of the report.
Make no statements
If you are arrested by the police for the accident, you do not need to make a statement even if you are asked for one. It is best to not say anything until you have spoken to a lawyer and taken legal advice.
Inform the insurance company
The final step is to report all accidents to the insurance company in detail and in writing. Even if you do not intend to make a claim, you need to inform the insurance company. The company will ask you to complete an accident report form which you need to return to them at the earliest. The claim procedure will depend on the insurance cover and those involved in the accident. At this stage, you need to provide all the evidence you have gathered and contacted the witnesses if need be. Do not hide anything from the insurance company because they will help you get maximum monetary compensation for the damages and injury.
An accident is an unfortunate event and it is important to take the necessary steps no matter where you are. You need to seek medical assistance immediately and then call the police. Once this is done, you will have to inform the insurance company. If you are hospitalized due to an injury, you need to keep a record of all the expenses incurred by you at the hospital. Do not discard any proof or receipts until the insurance company closes your case. It will help you receive the right amount of monetary compensation at the earliest. Most importantly, take precautions when driving the car. Always have your seat belt on and do not overtake from the wrong side. These are general precautions you need to take irrespective of the car you are driving or where you are driving.
