No one expects to be in a car accident. It is sudden and frightening, and often it can be hard to know what to do if you suddenly find yourself in a collision. People have a tendency to panic and make silly mistakes when the unexpected happens.
Losing your cool in a car accident could cost you. It’s best to prepare beforehand and know how you should handle everything. Having a plan in place for this eventuality could save you a lot of pain, money, and worry later on.
Keep Your Cool
After the moment of impact, your heart will be pounding. Don’t let adrenaline get the best of you – be sure to stay calm. This will help you get into a frame of mind to deal with the police and the other driver.
The other important advantage of staying calm is reducing further harm. If people in your car or the other car have been injured, make sure they don’t move. By keeping your cool, you will keep other people in the car from panicking.
Don’t get angry – it’s called an accident for a reason. Instead, try to engage the other driver calmly and get their information as quickly as possible.
Call The Police
No matter whose fault the accident was, you should call the police as soon as possible. The police will bring an ambulance with them to help anyone who is injured, so check with your car and the other car to see if anyone is in need of medical attention.
Calling the police will bring an unbiased arbiter onto the scene. The other driver may be angry, drunk, or belligerent. No matter what the circumstances of the accident are, the police will help to mediate and work out what really happened.
A police report of what happened and the damage to both cars will be more valuable in court than your personal recollection – time has a tendency to mess with memory.
Lawyer Up
Don’t admit fault on the scene. No matter what happened, maintain innocence – even a simple statement like “I’m sorry” could be used against you in court, “proving” that you were at fault in the accident. After you are sure the other people are safe, exchange information and go home.
Now is the time to call a lawyer and ensure that you are fully protected. A lawyer will be able to help you in understanding what the important points of your case are – for example, was it physically possible to see the other car? In cases like this, the city or state might actually be at fault, rather than either car.
Contacting a lawyer is always a good step to protect yourself and your family. A lawyer will be able to examine the whole case and look at reasons that the other car might be at fault, such as distractions, speeding, and irresponsible driving.
Protect Yourself
The most important thing in any accident is to ensure that you and your loved ones are safe. If someone is injured, even with a sore back or neck, do not hesitate to call a hospital as soon as possible – it could be a sign of concussion or internal bleeding, and cases in the past have proved fatal. Always fully inform EMS about any pain or injury anyone in either car has experienced.
