Important Steps You Should Immediately Take After A Serious Road Incident
We all wish to arrive at our destinations safely while using the roads. This brings us to the need of following every road safety rule to the letter. With this, you not only save yourself from life-threatening accidents but also safeguard other road users as well. Unfortunately, accidents do occur sometimes and leave us wondering what to do next.
This creates panic time which may translate to poor decision-making. Therefore, consider keeping calm in the best way you can. It helps in thinking straight and following the right procedures. Being involved in a serious road accident tends to make things even tougher not knowing what to do next.
1. Call the Police
The first thing to do when involved in a road accident is to find safety. Get out of the vehicle if you can. Assist other members who are in more danger especially when the vehicle has or is about to catch fire. However, be observant of the other vehicles on the road. Immediately call the police.
The presence of these officers calms things down. Some are well-trained for emergency cases hence do proper first aid on everyone at the spot. Besides, they are well-connected to emergency responders so ambulances will arrive sooner.
2. Taking Note of Insurance Information
With the help of the police, take down the insurance information of the other driver. This is where you focus on the vehicle’s registration number, driver’s name, and the insurance company. The police can conduct the exchange of information as they take the statements. Such details are significant when it comes to the determination of who is at fault.
Use your phone to take evidence of the accident. Keep such photo and video files safe as some court proceedings may need them when passing the sentences. Police officers will always strive to take as much forensic data as they can. To be on the safer side, keep some evidence to yourself.
3. Seek Medical Assistance
A quick medical aid can be life-saving. Therefore, seek the right medical checkups and further treatments. This ought to be done even when you sustain no injuries at all. Whiplash is an example of an injury that may be noticed days after the accident. It is caused by a sudden movement of the head back then forward. This is common when you are injured in a rear-end accident on the road. In some cases, your spine may suffer injuries and require surgery.
This helps in adding more to the compensation claim. A doctor may recommend certain treatments for a quicker recovery. Others might recommend having physiotherapists every week. Such additional expenses you incur ought to be included in the claim.
4. Never Admit to Be At Fault
When an accident takes place, the determination of fault is likely to happen. This is where the gathered evidence is used. The CCTV footage for the traffic, photos, videos taken by phone will all become essential tools for the evaluation. This step may be skipped when one party admits to being the cause of the problem which is rare.
If you get involved in a rear-end accident, use all ways you can in admitting your innocence. Even when you have doubts stick to this. Allow the process to continue. If the insurance company and police say that it is your fault, find a lawyer.
5. Contact a Lawyer
If you have a personal lawyer, he or she will follow the right procedures in appealing. They can analyze the nature of the accident and focus on loopholes to capitalize on. This makes it possible to raise strong arguments which favor your side. They also offer guidance on basic things which carry much weight. For instance, you get advice on why avoiding conversations with the other party is necessary.
There is proper guidance on how to conduct yourself during court trials. Avoiding being caught up with legal issues as this may create a bad image of you. Having a lawyer specialized in car accidents is significant in the filing of insurance claims. This is done at a high expertise level hence increasing the possibility of success.
6. Report to Your Insurer
The attorney will be significant in this step. He or she shields you from the insurance legal team which may lure you to accept a smaller compensation. You may find a firm offering fast cash options to make more profits. The presence of a lawyer guides the presentation of evidence. It maximizes your compensation.
Being involved in an accident brings panic and uncertainty to the involved parties. Following the necessary procedure means everything. It makes you safe from the injuries you experience. The issue of information gathering on insurance and evidence will be well-covered. Connect with your lawyer as there are several procedures he or she will help you with. This includes the filing of insurance claims.