Car Accidents Are More Common Than You Think: Here’s How To Handle Them The Right Way

When people think about car accidents, they never believe that they will be part of one. However, such accidents are far more common than you may believe. You’ll be surprised to discover that there are over six million road accidents each year in the US, and over three million people are injured as a result.

Given their frequency, it’s essential that you know how to handle yourself in the aftermath of a car accident, especially if you are driving one of these cars. Over two million drivers who are part of a car accident experience permanent injuries per year, and the last thing you want is to find yourself among that number.

Unfortunately, learning to drive and driving tests do not adequately inform you about what you should do if you are ever in a car accident. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t be prepared without ever sitting behind a wheel.

Check for Injuries

If possible, check yourself and other people in the car for injuries. While you may not be able to identify any internal or minor injuries, you should still check for visible injuries, including burns, visible head injuries, and major broken bones. Once you have a better idea of how everyone is feeling, you can better determine your next steps.

Get to Safety

If you and the other people in your car (and any other vehicles affected by the accident) can move, you should move to a safer area. If the vehicles are still operational, they should be moved out of the way as well.

This step is especially essential if the accident took place on a highway or major road. If the car is left in the middle of the road, there’s the risk of another car hitting it. If you cannot move the vehicles, set out any flares or emergency triangles you may have to warn other vehicles away, especially if someone is trapped within the cars in the accident.

If you suspect that there is a danger of a fire or an explosion, get everyone out of the way, and contact emergency services.

Exchange Information

Even if the accident was a minor one, without any injuries, you will need to inform your insurance of the situation. Furthermore, if you were not at fault in the accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

To figure out whether the other driver is liable for damages, including hospital bills, contact an attorney for advice. Always make sure to hire someone local – for example, if you live in Rio Rancho, hire a Rio Rancho auto accident lawyer for help. If you live in New York, hire an attorney specializing in car accidents who practices in the city.

Hiring locals ensures that you get the help of an attorney who understands local laws in a way that someone from outside the area would be unable to, which helps assure you that you are in the best hands possible.

While exchanging information with the other driver, make sure to get their name and insurance and their contact details. If you are a passenger in a car crash, you should still get this information – there is a good chance you are entitled to file a claim with their insurance, as long as you have all the details. Other information to note down include images of any injuries you may have suffered, images of the crash site, and personal notes on the accident and what happened from your perspective.

Seek Medical Attention

If you do not have visible injuries and do not feel hurt, there’s a good chance you may feel like seeking medical attention is a waste of time and money. However, just because an injury is not immediately visible doesn’t mean that you’re completely okay.

There are numerous “invisible” injuries you can suffer as a result of a car accident. Brain trauma is extremely common, and car accidents are the second-largest cause of TBIs in the country. These injuries are not necessarily immediately evident but still need professional care to ensure that they don’t become worse.

By getting medical attention immediately, you ensure that any injuries you have are seen instantly. Additionally, doctors will be able to guide you on any special precautions you need to take to ensure you do not exacerbate them and make them worse.

No matter what you do, once you get checked out, ensure you have legal representation going forward. An experienced lawyer will be able to guide you through filing a police report and help you file a claim to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses when possible.