A car accident may not be your fault or within your control, but it is important to take certain steps when you find yourself in such situations. It has been said that about 1.3 million people die from car accidents globally each year, and about twenty million people get injured or disabled. Based on these statistics, there is likelihood of you being in a car accident at least once in your life span.
In situations where an accident is not your fault, it may be someone else’s fault and that it is why it is important to know what to do when you get involved in a car accident.
Here are some steps to take when that happens:
DO NOT LEAVE THE SCENE
Even if an auto accident seems minor, it is not advisable to leave the scene of the accident.
SEEK MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
In some cases, people tend to overlook the importance of seeking medical assistance after getting into an accident because they have little or no physical injuries, but that can be detrimental because some injuries only manifest themselves after some time or after you get over the shock and trauma of the accident. Sometimes, injuries can be internal and not handling them on time has fatal consequences.
CALL THE POLICE
If your health permits you, you should call the police and let them know even if you did not sustain serious injuries. In some cases, you may have to provide a police report to claim your insurance. When you do get in touch with a police officer, try to give as accurate a record as you can. Snap pictures if you have to.
DO NOT SPEAK WITH THE OTHER PERSON’S INSURANCE COMPANY
Avoid giving any written statements or recorded interviews with the other party’s insurance company before talking to your lawyer. You are legally not obligated to give statements to them despite what they may make you believe. When you find yourself in that situation, simply tell them your legal representative will be in touch with them.
CONTACT A LAWYER IMMEDIATELY
There are so many things that can come out of an auto accident even if it doesn’t seem serious and you need someone who can help you navigate that. A lawyer can handle many things on your behalf especially when you are at fault and help you negotiate the best terms. If you get into an auto accident, you can contact a personal injury lawyer.
It is not advisable to try to handle an auto accident on your own or post pictures on social media because insurance companies can scour social media for any inconsistencies and that can be used against you.
Whether you are at fault or not, it is important to follow the above steps for your best interest, and most importantly, be careful and conscious on the road and try to obey all the rules and regulations.