According to a study by The National Highway Traffic Administration, ‘Approximately 5.25 million accidents occur every year in the USA,’ that’s a LOT of accidents!
However, with thousands of cars running to and fro when every person is in a rush to reach their destination, these increasing car accidents are not surprising. But, it can’t be the only cause behind these accidents, Right?
Other reasons such as harsh weather conditions, fatigue, reckless driving, car failure, and getting distracted while driving also leads to tragic incidents. Nonetheless, what are the consequences?
After an accident, you might be stunned with shock, dizzy with adrenaline rushing through your veins. Rather than getting panicked about the accident, it is time to stay calm and think of practical steps that you can take immediately.
Wondering what these steps are? Keep reading.
Ensure the safety of everyone
First of all, avoid the mistake of driving away after the accident. Instead, get up and ensure that every person involved in the accident is safe. Try to get personal information such as the name, phone number, and address of every person. And, if there are any witnesses, get their information as well.
Contact police and emergency service
Immediately contact the emergency services and police. The sooner police will arrive at the scene, the better evidence they will be able to collect. They will record statements of all the parties involved as well as the witnesses.
You must be wondering- why? Well, many insurance companies require a police report to provide the claim. Besides, it will also prevent the plaintiff from changing their side of the story as you will have an official record.
Seek medical attention
If any person is seriously injured, call for an ambulance right away. By the time the ambulance arrives, provide first-aid to the person to minimize the risk of further infections. It would help if you also consider taking medical treatment to ensure that you don’t have any concussion.
Collect on spot evidence
Before you leave the site of the accident, make sure to click pictures of the damage done. Not only this, take photographs of your injury (if you have any) and the surrounding. It may sound absurd, but these pictures will, later on, help you with the insurance claim.
Hire a lawyer
Yes, the scenario of the car crash requires hiring a lawyer. But why? ‘No!, not because you are at fault in the accident’. The reason behind it is that the car accident lawyer will help you in handling all your insurance claims. In addition to this, they will protect your rights and will also guide you through the process.
Besides, don’t ignore the importance of seeking professional help just because you had a small accident. It is better to avoid such a mistake as it will negatively impact your insurance claim.
Talk with your insurance company
To overcome the accident’s financial burden caused by the accident, it is essential to contact your insurance company instantly. Please provide them with the evidence collected, i.e., police report and photographs, for your claim’s smooth processing.
Conclusion,
We understand that after your accident, everything will feel chaotic. Nonetheless, you have to protect yourself. Taking timely measures such as calling the police, hiring a lawyer, and contacting the insurance company will help mitigate the loss.
After all, ‘You can’t always control what happens, but you can always control how you react.’
