According to data, over six million car accidents occur in the United States yearly. Luckily, most of these accidents involve only property damage or damage to the vehicle. But it is reported that one in three accidents involve injury to the passengers and the driver. From those numbers, two of ten accidents result in fatal injuries.
Truck accidents are the most common, especially in Los Angeles, and people turn to a truck accident attorney for help. Of course, such incidents happen suddenly that the time to call an attorney can only come after. If you find yourself involved in a car accident, there are certain things that you must do to protect yourself.
Stop
Do not, under any circumstances, drive away from the scene of the accident, no matter how minor. Get off your car and check what has happened.
Protect
The possibility of further accidents is highly likely, so prevent it by setting up flares and keeping your flashers on. If your lights don’t work and you find yourself in the dark, have a flashlight within reach while you wait in your car.
Call the authorities
Even with the absence of any serious or fatal injuries, it is always a good idea to call the police. A police report is necessary to file claims with your insurance, even if it only encompasses damage to your vehicle. Unless they interfere with traffic flow, the vehicles involved should always remain where they are.
Record the incident and ensure its accuracy
As soon as the authorities arrive, tell the officers involved exactly what has happened. If certain facts remain hazy, make sure that the officers know. Avoid speculating, guessing, and misstating any of the facts. Moreover, ensure that the statements made by other people involved are also accurate.
Take photographs
Take pictures of any damage using your phone or any other recording device. Any visible injuries should be photographed as well.
Make sure that there is an exchange of information
This is usually obtained by the police arriving at the scene. But should there be no response, take matters into your own hands. Obtain the names, addresses, and contact numbers of the people involved in the accident. This will help you with insurance later on, as well as help your lawyer contact them later on.
Seek medical attention
More often than not, injuries caused by vehicular accidents do not appear immediately. Most victims of accidents feel pain a day or two after the accident, which sometimes evolves into fatal injuries. To be safe, seek medical attention as soon as possible in the nearest emergency room. Even minor-impact accidents should not be taken lightly, as damage to your spinal cord and brain can cause fatal and permanent injuries.
Keep a copy of all documents
Every piece of information you’ve gathered should be kept together. This should include a claim number for your insurance, the person handling the claim, and a list of all names and contact numbers involved. All expenses incurred as a result of the accident should also be kept.
No matter how minor, accidents should never be taken lightly. Becoming aware of every possible result will save you the trouble later on, especially when dealing with paperwork. We should never get involved in a car accident of any form. But if misfortune strikes, you now know what to do: never underestimate the power of information.