No one would ever want to be a victim of a car crash. And yet, vehicle collisions are common and can happen to anyone. Therefore, knowing what steps to take if something like this happens to you is vital.
Being involved in a car crash is genuinely traumatic. You may experience all kinds of negative emotions about what happened to you, which is totally understandable. Anyone in your place would feel the same. Car accidents can not only leave you with physical injuries – although not visible, the emotional damage can also have long-lasting effects.
You might still feel shocked after the experience and fearful of what might happen next. You might wonder how long your recovery will take and if you’ll be able to get into the car ever again. While these are all normal reactions and concerns, there are some critical steps you should follow as a victim of a car crash.
What you do right after the accident can highly influence what will happen in the future. If someone’s wrongdoing caused the accident, it’s your right to claim compensation for your losses – but the actions you take after the accident can be used in your favour or against you. Thus, you have to ensure you do things properly. Without further ado, here is our guide on what to do after a car crash.
Stay at the collision scene
One of the first things to do if you’ve been involved in a car accident is to breathe deeply and remain calm. We know that’s by no means easy after such a shocking experience. While your first instinct might be to run, you should stay at the collision scene once you realise what happened to you.
Don’t leave the place unless you need urgent medical support. Call 911 right away and wait until the authorities arrive. Once police officers get to the accident scene, they will examine it and document the details according to witnesses’ statements. You should still call the police even for a minor crash in the parking spot or something similar.
Get medical help
Although your injuries might not be visible at first, you should still pay attention to your health. The symptoms might not manifest right away due to the confusion and adrenaline you experience after the vehicle collision. Plus, some injuries might manifest sometime after the accident – it might take a couple of hours or even a few days until you become aware of them.
This is why it’s crucial to seek medical attention from an expert who can examine your injuries and give a proper diagnosis.
Check if someone else has sustained injuries
If you didn’t suffer significant injuries due to the collision and you’re in the right condition to do so, you should think about the other people involved in the crash. Even if no one else was in your car, people in the other vehicles involved in the collision might have sustained severe injuries. In that case, they need urgent medical care, so it’s vital to check their condition.
During such a critical moment, it’s not relevant who was at fault – the main thing is to ensure no one has sustained life-threatening injuries. Once everyone gets proper medical attention, there will be enough time to sort out all the other issues.
Collect information about the accident
After ensuring no one’s life is at risk, the next step is to gather all the necessary information from the accident scene. If the incident gets to the court, you need evidence to support your statements.
So, make sure to document all the accident details, including information about the other driver, such as their name, contact details and licence number. You should also collect information on the accident circumstances, such as visibility and weather conditions. If your condition allows, take pictures of the collision too, as they can work as valuable evidence for your case.
Contact a personal injury lawyer
If a driver’s wrongdoing caused the accident, you should know that it’s your right to get compensation for all the damage you suffered. It can be pretty overwhelming to deal with the legal aspects on your own, but a personal injury lawyer can support you during the process. Having a legal professional by your side will increase your chances of filing a successful claim and getting the maximum compensation.
So, if you want to learn how to sue someone after a car accident, make sure to contact a personal injury attorney. They can use their skills and experience to ensure things work out in your favour.
File your claim as soon as possible
The sooner you file the claim, the better it will be. You should know there’s a limited period to file a personal injury claim – three years from when the accident occurred, to be exact.
So, don’t wait too long if you don’t want to lose your right to claim compensation. The legal process is pretty complex, and it might take some time to proceed with all the aspects, so start as soon as your condition allows you.
Focus on your healing
During this time, it’s more important than ever to take care of yourself. You went through a traumatic experience that caused significant physical and emotional damage. So, it’s essential to be compassionate to yourself and focus on your healing.
Make sure to follow your doctor’s recommendations and get enough rest. You might be impatient to get back to your routine as soon as possible, but you shouldn’t push yourself too hard. No one can tell for sure how long recovery will take, but it’s essential to give yourself enough time to heal.
Rest as much as you need, eat healthily and stay hydrated. Also, ensure you don’t isolate yourself during the recovery process. Surround yourself with people who can provide support and encourage you. You can also talk to them about your feelings instead of bottling them up – they will surely be glad to listen. Keeping your loved ones around can be truly beneficial for your healing, so don’t try to handle things on your own.