What Happens When You Have An Accident?
No one ever wants to be in the situation where they have had an accident on the road. Being in an accident can be a huge problem for our health and mental well being and in some cases, it can be fatal for one or even all parties involved. When it comes to getting in an accident and solving a dispute on the road, here are all of the things you will want to do to ensure you are covered and you gain the compensation that you deserve.
After the accident
Most of the time in those few minutes after an accident occurs we can be very shaken and it can lead us to feel incredibly vulnerable and prone to mistakes. It is so important that once you are in an accident you think about what to do next to better your case and make things as smooth for yourself as possible going forward. There are several things you will want to do once an accident happens and here they are:
- Stop the car as soon as you can and pull over to the side of the road if you are able to do so.
- Switch on your hazard lights so that surrounding traffic knows you are there for a while.
- Check yourself and anyone else in the car for injuries to ensure everyone is ok. If not, call an ambulance to come to the scene.
- Call the police so that they are able to take statements and get to the bottom of the incident
- Stay calm. It is understandable that you will be shaken up and in shock after an accident but you need to make sure you stay as calm as you can to allow your body to adjust and relax. It can be dangerous to be jittery.
- Don’t apologize or admit any fault. If you do this it can be used as evidence against you later and hurt your chances of filing a successful claim.
Exchanging details
One of the biggest parts of an accident in the aftermath is making sure to swap your details with the other driver so that you both have the relevant information to take back to your insurer and use in a case. You will want to get the name, telephone number and insurance details of the other driver as well as noting the registration plate of the vehicle. If the registration plate doesn’t match the driver this can indicate no insurance and maybe even theft.
Recording the scene
As well as making sure to record information such a the time and date, any damage done and any injuries to yourself and the other vehicles, you will want to pull out your camera phone and take photos and even a video of the scene. Taking a couple of minutes to do this can be incredibly helpful to the police later on and it can allow you to provide evidence which will help your case later on when it goes to court. Filming the scene gives a clear image of what happened and the police can use this to determine what exactly went on and who is to blame.
Find witnesses
It is always important when you have been in an accident that you look around to see if there were any witnesses present at the time who can possibly help you to find out what exactly happened. Witnesses can be just who you need on your side to help you get the right compensation and therefore it will be important for you to take the details of anyone who witnessed the accident so that they can be called upon later on when you do go into court. This will add an extra layer of evidence to your case.
Keep a diary
When you are sent to the hospital or the doctors for treatment after an accident it is important to keep a record if the time and date of the appointments, what happened and how you felt. This can be used alongside the official medical records later on to allow you a good amount of compensation for your troubles.
Make a claim
Once the accident has occurred the first people you will need to get in contact with are your insurers. Your insurance company will be able to help you make a claim and discuss with you what action should be taken going forward. You can take the evidence you have with you and this will allow them to recommend a course of action for the future.
Hiring a lawyer
Now comes the time where things get more serious as you can hire a law firm to handle the case for you. You can learn more online about specialist law firms who deal with accidents and set out an interview with 2-3 different firms to ensure you get the right people for the case. Take the time when you go for an interview with each firm to look around the office and also see what kind of place they have at their disposal. The ideal people will be open and friendly and they will have all of the resources you could possibly need for your case. Take your time making the decision on which lawyer you choose because it will be a decision which impacts how your case goes on later.
Getting your compensation
As we have said before, it is incredibly important that you make sure you have all of the resources you possibly can and all of the information you can when it comes to making your case in court. The police and your lawyer will help you gather all of your evidence such as the recording of the incident, the information of drivers and witnesses and your medical records too in order to make the best case you can for yourself. If the accident isn’t your fault there is no reason why you shouldn’t get a good amount of compensation for yourself so this can be a huge help for your recovery going forward.