Car Crash - What To Do After a Crash
Car accidents come out of nowhere, often with
no warning whatsoever or sometimes with just enough time to see what’s coming
but not enough time to take evasive action. The ‘out of the blue’ nature of
road accidents means we’re all left at least a little mentally and physically
shaken, with some accidents resulting in more serious mental and physical
injuries. This means that you may not be in the right frame of mind for making
important decisions such as what to do in the immediate aftermath of a car crash.
For example, if you have never experienced a road accident before, you may have
heard that you are supposed to swap details with the other driver, and that you
should call the police. This can leave you looking for a pencil and something
to write on, all the while wondering if your injuries and anyone else’s
injuries are severe, and whether you should call the emergency services first …
everything will seem to happen so fast that you could feel like your head is
spinning. So, let’s take a look at the actions you should bear in mind
following a car accident (if you have been involved in a car accident that
wasn’t your fault, speak to a company like Dallas auto accident).
The
first thing to do
Above all else, your safety is a priority.
Stop the car as soon as possible and switch off your engine. Try to remember to
turn on your ‘blinkers’ or ‘hazard lights’, to alert other cars
that you are stationary. Now check for injuries, both to yourself and any
passengers. Call the emergency services and try to remain calm - many people in
road accidents become angry and irritated (the feeling is like being punched or
kicked, which is enough to leave anyone in a bad mood). If the collision is
minor and there are no injuries, you still need to inform the police for the
sake of records and procedure (anybody else involved in the crash could later
claim against you, meaning you need an official report of the incident that
proves no such injury existed at the time).
Importantly, do not apologise to any other
people involved in the crash, as this could be used against you during the
legal investigation into establishing liability.
Injuries
aside, we turn to the next steps
This is the point at which you should exchange
details with anyone else involved in the crash. Write down names, the model and
colour of any other cars (including the registration), and note the time and
date. Take pictures of the scene if you can.
Finally … speak to a personal injury lawyer,
who can direct proceedings from here.