People who have yet to experience a car accident will perhaps not fully understand the unnerving nature of being taken out of your comfort zone and being thrown into an emergency situation in the space of a single moment. Panic, anger, shock, and disbelief can all become overbearing, creating a situation in which racing thoughts prevent you from actually taking any action for a few seconds, as you try to comprehend the developing scene around you (if you have been affected, see a company like Beaumont auto accident attorneys for further information). Essentially, the first steps after a road accident come down to three main components. Let’s take a look.
Stop the car, check for injuries, call the emergency services
Pull over, stop the car, and check yourself and any other occupants for injuries. Even light impacts can cause a whipping motion of the head, which could mean that although you may not have suffered a head injury, rear passengers out of your line of sight may have in fact impacted their face or the side or their head of different parts of the interior of the car. This is when you should call the emergency services. Where you suspect a severe injury, it is important not to move and to remain immobile until the emergency services arrive to administer treatment. These are the initial actions and checks that should take place inside your car before stepping outside of the vehicle for any other reason.
Exchange details with the other driver & gather evidence
If you are satisfied that it is safe for you to move, and if your car engine is switched off, exit the vehicle when safe to do so and attempt to make contact with the other driver. At this stage, you should exchange information with the other driver, so you may need something to write with. Initial details like names, addresses, telephone numbers, vehicle registration and insurance details should be taken down. Take photos of the scene, with a mixture of closeups showing the damage to the vehicles and wider angle shots showing the scene more broadly. Importantly, do not apologise to the other driver … why? See below.
Speak to a personal injury lawyer
Before you continue, and if your injuries are not pressing, this is when you should speak to a lawyer. The accident attorney will be able to deliver initial information about how to progress. Part of that information will likely include the instruction not to apologise to the driver of the other vehicle, as this could be seen as an admission of guilt before a proper investigation has taken place into the accident, meaning you could inadvertently derail any future compensation claim. From here, the lawyer will deliver further instructions.
