In the U.S. alone, over six million motor vehicle accidents take place each year. Fortunately, most of these accidents only cause damage to the vehicles involved, not the owners or occupants of them. There are, however, still times when drives are injured after being involved in an incident on the roads.
Some of these incidents result in a few bumps and scratches, some result in extensive injuries being caused to those involved, and some result in death. Should you ever be lucky enough to walk away from an accident relatively unscathed, it’s important that you put all of the advice laid out below into practice right away.
Don’t drive away
First and foremost, you must refrain from driving away from the scene of the accident. Even if the accident is minor, you must stay where you are for the time being.
Make the scene safe
Especially if it took place at nighttime, your accident will make the surrounding scene unsafe. In the interest of protecting others, you have to make it clear to other drivers that an accident has occurred. This can be achieved by setting up flares or by keeping your hazard lights flashing.
Call the police
The police should be called to the scene regardless of how serious the accident appears to be. They will file a report on the event, and having this official documentation will make it easier for you to deal with your insurance company and claim compensation going forward.
When speaking to the officer that arrives at the scene, you must be sure to tell them exactly what happened. The more accurate their record is, the better off you’ll be with regards to claiming the compensation that you are owed. If you are unaware of any of the facts, don’t start guessing or estimating what may have happened, as this could result in your misstating a vital piece of evidence. Instead, simply tell the officer that you aren’t sure.
Take photographs
In order to support any claims that you make going forward, it’s important that you compile as much evidence regarding the accident as you can. The best way to do this is to take photographs of the scene on your mobile phone. You should be taking snaps of all the damage caused to your vehicle, and you should also take photos of any injuries that you suffer including bruises, bloodshed, etc.
Report the accident
To officially get the ball rolling with your compensation claim, you have to report the accident as soon as it is possible for you to do so. This means notifying your insurance company right away.
Partner up with a lawyer
If you want to have the best chance possible of claiming what you are owed, it’s important that you partner up with a lawyer that practices in the field of motor vehicle accidents. Funeral & Nelson LLC, who can be found at charlestonlaw.net, fit the bill in this instance. They will work with you one-on-one to ensure that you are awarded the exact level of compensation that you deserve.
If you are ever involved in a motor accident, it’s essential that you remember all of the advice listed above.
