You are out on the road minding your own business when you are immediately thrust forward. Boom! You hear it. You think you have been hit. To your dismay, you are correct. While it is easy to get caught up in this situation and freeze, you must remember to take the right actions to preserve yourself and protect your assets.
Indeed, car accidents may seem like a run-of-the-mill event or series of events that take place in life. At the same time, remember that while they are quite undoubtedly unfortunate situations, it is up to you to take the right actions to move forward in the best way.
These driving incidents may happen due to negligence, hazardous road conditions, or other factors. One factor may be distracted driving, a point that continues to increase as more gaze into their screens while on the road. The data is also showing an increase in more reckless driving, continuous speeding, and immediate stops.
Whether the other driver was on a Zoom meeting while on the road, or was swiping through different clips on a mobile application, the accident did happen and you must take the next step.
Still, it is essential to take a few minutes to understand how to address the situation calmly and collected.
The primary point is that you must have the knowledge to take decisive action, move out of harm’s way after an incident, and ensure to have a firm plan of action afterward.
The right level of preparation will ensure that you are safe, secure, and have the capacity to reach out to the insurance provider and have the right coverage. Learn more to reach out to a car accident attorney makes you easier in this case.
Here is what you must do when you encounter such an event, remember to recall this information when you find yourself in this unfortunate situation.
The Initial Action After A Collision
The initial action after an incident is to take a few deep breaths. This action or series of measures will ensure that you can take control of the situation, calm your nerves, and lower your stress levels.
This action enables you to avoid being swept up at the moment, allowing you to implement the following steps with more ease. Now that you have closed your eyes and become more present at the moment, you can start to move on to the next steps.
Pull the Car Over To The Safest Area
Many injuries take place because drivers forgot to move out of the way of oncoming traffic. These situations compel danger and risk and bring about leg injuries or other severe injuries that create further problems. Simultaneously, these injuries can take rehabilitation and other restorative care, which takes more time and money.
That is why many people suggest moving your car out of harm’s way and place it in a brightly lit area close to the scene of the incident.
Ideally, it would be best if you were able to be in a public area to have overall visibility.
This is even more important if you think that someone purposefully hit your car from the back. There are situations where individuals seek to stage accidents to obtain insurance funds. Thus, is it important to have type 1 car insurance so that you know you are fully covered in case of an accident?
Avoid being an obstacle or a potential road hazard.
An essential component of this step is to resort to emergency lights to signal that you are in distress and urge caution.
To summarize this step, ensure that you get out of the way as quickly and safely as possible, press your emergency lights button, and move to a public location for overall visibility. This the first step in a series of actions to establish a foundation to make an insurance claim to obtain the recovery that you so rightfully deserve.
At the same time, it is essential to note that you can not always move your car out of harm’s way, this is when you must ensure to walk with your passengers to a safe area nearby.
Assess Injuries, Call the Police and First Responders
The key part of this process is to ensure that you and everyone within the car are safe and healthy. That means that you must make sure to quickly assess for initial damages. Remember that even if people are not showing any signs of symptoms, they may still have internal damages.
Depending on the situation, you must call emergency services such as an ambulance and the police department to the scene of the incident. This is especially necessary for the elderly, babies, and other individuals who may experience more weakness.
This process establishes a precedent, shows urgency and overall professionalism during the incident. It shows insurance companies and provides a further case for your car accident attorney.
The police will also help generate a report, compile information and general aspects of a car accident situation. Ensure to stay on the line with the dispatcher to make sure they can send the right help as quickly as possible.
Keep the right numbers in mind to call the emergency responders that are necessary in your situation.
Sometimes the police may not arrive, this is when you should ensure to go to the station and file a police report on the accident. But do so after seeking medical care.
Medical Care is Necessary
After collecting the information of the other driver and exchanging yours, make sure to go and visit a hospital. The medical workers will ensure to conduct a simple check-up, and make sure that everything is working as it should. They will ask you a few questions and give you an overall assessment of your situation. Remember to save the receipts of the visit for later.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney
A car accident attorney will be very crucial in helping you move the process along while ensuring that everything is happening as it should. There are various ways that the other driver or the insurance party may seek to hold payments or minimize their liability.
As such, you can talk to your attorney, keep them aware of the situation and point to your police report, your medical report, and other information that helps them catch up on your situation.
This helps them to defend your right to fair compensation and helps you thwart problems that occur.
While you may think that the accident itself is a pain and is the worst of the situation, the truth is that there are several ways that a slip and fall accident can ruin your life. The primary point here is that you must make the right choices and act wisely to avoid or minimize the consequences of the incident.
What is your best move after a slip and fall accident? The experts would note that you should reach out to a slip and fall lawyer to ensure that you find the protection, compensation, and recovery that you need to move on with your life.
These professionals can make sure to conduct the right due diligence, provide you with the right advice, and guide you to take the right actions while negotiating on your behalf.
The right professional will ensure to seek a fair settlement that works in your favor.
Practice These Steps For Best Results
Each of these steps matter greatly and help you to establish a precedent throughout the process. Remember that practicing these steps keeps you out of harm in several ways.
If you have questions or concerns, seek legal help as quickly as possible to ensure that you have the proper defense.
If you have been in a car accident, you must contact an experienced car accident attorney to protect your rights. The Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin has represented many clients injured in car accidents.
