According to some statistics, just in the USA, there are over six million traffic accidents in a year’s span. Fortunately, these accidents have material or property damage as the main outcome, but we cannot ignore the fact that there are still a great number of fatalities and severe injuries. Based on the data collected for the statistical analysis, one out of three accidents involves personal injuries, while two out of every ten accidents have fatal outcomes. In case you get involved in a car accident, there are a couple of things you should know so you can get out of the situation safely. Here are six things you must know.
You Need to Stop
If you ever get involved in a car accident, it is crucial to stop. Otherwise, you could get yourself in even greater trouble and suffer the consequences of fleeing from the accident scene. Regardless of the size of the accident and no matter how minor it is, it is of the utmost importance not to move. In addition, you should protect the accident scene so that other drivers do not get involved in it as well. You need to set up the flares or keep the flashers on. In the scenario where it is dark and the lights do not work, you should have a flashlight so you can keep yourself safe until help arrives.
Call the Police
If there are no serious injuries, you should call the police. Police reports are one of the most important pieces of evidence during a lawsuit and when making claims for your insurance company, even if it is just to make claims for the damages to your vehicle. All the involved vehicles should stay in the exact same spot so the final report can be accurate and not interfere with the traffic.
If You Are Injured, Call the Ambulance
An ambulance at the accident scene is a must. Especially because of the fact that most of the injuries are initially invisible. According to medical reports, one of the most common car accident injuries is a whiplash injury. This injury occurs as the direct result of forward-backward jerking, which causes serious trauma to your neck. Just as a whiplash injury attorney in Houston suggests, this sudden jerk, caused by sudden acceleration and spinning, requires instant medical treatment due to the fact that it is usually ignored since it takes quite some time to manifest. And, as such, your injury can become irrelevant to the case. Most injuries can go unnoticed, and if you do not have strong evidence of them, they cannot be helpful while making your claims. Additionally, you must speak with a personal injury attorney for assistance in navigating all the legal intricacies that arise after an accident. A knowledgeable vehicle accident lawyer can make sure you submit your whiplash injury claim on time and with all the necessary information.
Make an Accurate Record
It goes without saying that car accidents are stressful events. In reference to this, it is important to mention that these situations can have a serious impact on our brains since they have a tendency to push away stressful events, resulting in short-term and long-term amnesia. But, it takes some time for the process to take place, so it is of the utmost importance to give the officers a detailed and accurate record. When the police arrive, you need to make sure that you are saying things exactly as they happened, to the best of your ability. You must not speculate, as it can even complicate the case. If you are asked if you are injured and you are not sure if there are any visible or invisible injuries, you should say you are not sure instead of no. In the majority of cases, injuries and pain caused in motor vehicle accidents become apparent a couple of hours later. In addition, you need to make sure that the records of other people involved in an accident as well as witnesses’ testimonies are as accurate as yours.
Take Pictures
Having your own pieces of evidence can be a crucial factor when making your insurance claims or even during a lawsuit. So, if you are able to take pictures of the accident scene, it would be perfect. You need to pay attention to details and photograph the entire scene, damage, and even visible injuries if there are any. However, you should not interfere with the ongoing police investigations.
Exchange Information
Typically, police respond to the accident scene, but there are some cases where they are delayed. For the sake of making a record of the accident, the police take all of the information about the people involved as well as the basic information about their vehicles. However, if the police do not respond to the scene, you should obtain this information on your own.
Car accidents are stressful events that can have a serious impact on our health and cause long-lasting fears or trauma. So, it is of the greatest importance to follow these simple steps if you want to be safe until help arrives and collect useful pieces of evidence for your insurance claims.
