From fender benders to more disastrous collisions, car accidents can be stressful for everyone involved and even bystanders and family members. They can cause many issues that often go much further than the initial injuries sustained during the accident. While you are hopefully never involved in a collision, there is always the chance that it could happen, so it’s worth knowing how to react to keep yourself, passengers, and other drivers safe.
Stay Calm
Staying calm is perhaps the last thing on your mind following a crash, especially if you immediately feel you’re at fault. Right now, that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you keep your head screwed on straight and your wits about you, so you know what to do next.
If you’re in control of the vehicle and still able to drive, you need to stay calm so you don’t do anything rash or dangerous that could put others in danger. It may be best to check on everyone else first and then consider your next move. As tempting as it is to get out of the car immediately, make sure you wait for any other traffic to pass, especially if you’re on the motorway.
Reach a Safe Point
You shouldn’t operate your phone while driving, so the next step is to get to a safe point. On residential roads, you may be able to get to a side street or at least drive up the curb. Depending on where you are and how much damage your vehicle has encountered you may be forced to stay in place.Â
However, if you’re on the motorway, get out of the way of oncoming traffic. Use the hard shoulder, switch the engine off and activate your car’s handbrake. Once you have come to a complete stop, you can think about your next moves.Â
Call Emergency Services
Your next move involves calling emergency services. Tell them where you are and what has happened. Response units will do the rest. They are likely to send police and ambulances, while firefighters may also arrive if they are concerned about the car’s burning.
These services should arrive quickly, so you can take this time to check on everyone again and calm down some more. You can also get out of the car and out of traffic. If the other person is still there, you can speak to them as well to make sure they have not suffered any serious injuries.
Do What You Can
If anyone has suffered potentially dangerous injuries and you feel equipped and qualified to help them, you can take the chance to do this while you wait for emergency services. Applying First Aid to anyone involved in the crash can drastically increase their chances of survival but you need to be careful with kids and the elderly to prevent making any injuries worse.
The same goes for anyone wearing a helmet, which could happen following a motorcycle crash. Do not attempt to remove the helmet, as the person could have suffered a neck or head injury, and the helmet is the only thing currently keeping them from suffering worse injuries. You can leave this to the professionals while you focus on other treatments.
Get the Necessary Information
Although some collisions are not as dangerous, you should still get the necessary information from the other party regardless of who was at fault. This can allow you to prevent any criminal charges which could happen if you committed a hit and run, while also ensuring you are protected if they try to weave a story that is not accurate.
If you have a dashcam, you should keep this quiet until you have shared information as you don’t want them to try to skirt responsibility. Your camera should have their license plate information anyway so you can find them easily. Don’t forget to take photographs of the damage.
Speak to a Doctor
You may require immediate medical attention, but if you don’t it’s still worth seeing a doctor that same day. Even small collisions can cause whiplash or concussions, so you want to get checked out for these as soon as possible.
Medical treatment should prevent further problems and identify lingering injuries that might affect you. If the accident wasn’t your fault, you might also have grounds for compensation, so you’ll need to speak to a solicitor.
Speak to A SolicitorÂ
Finding a dependable solicitor, whether you’re looking for a regular car accident or a truck accident lawyer can be tough. You need to know you’re getting support to match your needs. Because of this, you’ll need to get a detailed injury report from your doctor.Â
Even if you don’t have any severe injuries, you can still contact a legal professional to take your case under the guise of dangerous driving. Your case will be significantly helped if you have corroborating testimonies and evidence, so any passengers and dashcam footage should be kept secure. It’s best to do this as soon as possible, so you don’t forget any details.
Take Your Time
Some people can suffer from post-crash anxiety, meaning they are uneasy about getting back in a vehicle after being involved in an accident. This can happen to anyone, so don’t be surprised if you feel strange the next time you need to drive somewhere.Â
You might think you’re okay to handle your vehicle, but the smallest problems could trigger a bad reaction. As this could be dangerous for yourself and others, you may be better off taking your time before getting back on the road.
After the Accident
Even people who have never been involved in a collision understand how stressful and traumatic it can be. But, it’s always important to know what to do immediately following the accident, as well as any follow-up practices later on. By remembering these tips, you should be able to deal with any issues as soon and as safely as possible while also having the ability to take care of other problems that may require your attention in the days, weeks, and months after the accident.
