Being involved in a car accident can be extremely scary indeed.
It will be incredibly traumatic for everyone involved, especially any small children who have been traveling with you. However, there will be no time to panic, though, as you will have to be level-headed in the immediate aftermath to ensure that you do everything that you can to keep everyone safe and out of harm’s way. If you have a car accident then your car needs to be repaired. For damaged car repair, choose auto body repair to save money and get it fixed quickly if you have an eligible claim with MPI. Find facts, statistics and research on car accidents in the latest report produced by Newstrail.
There are also a few important jobs that you will need to take care of in the immediate days that follow as well. When you have been in an accident and your car needs to be replaced, the first thing you will want to do is to get a not at fault accident rental car.
Get Everyone Away From The Scene
First of all, straight after the accident has taken place, it’s important to get everyone out of the car and away from the scene of the crash if possible.
If people can walk away from the crash, then you should direct them to a safe space away from the road so that they aren’t the way of any oncoming traffic. If there is someone trapped in a vehicle then you will need to call the emergency services to help free them.
Don’t try and free them yourself as you could end up getting injured or causing some potentially dangerous damage to the car. For example, you could start an oil leak. Be sure to see any other vehicles involved in the crash and make sure all of the passengers in them are able to get out of harm’s way.
See If Anyone Is Injured
Next, you will need to make sure that everyone who is injured is being seen.
It’s a good idea to check all of your family to see if there are any obvious cuts and bruises. If so, they will need to be seen by a paramedic to make sure that these injuries aren’t also internal. If someone seems to be confused, then there’s a good chance that they are suffering from a concussion.
In this situation, get them to sit down but make sure that they don’t fall asleep before medical help arrives. When paramedics arrive on the scene, they will want to examine everyone, even people who seem to have got away unscathed, as they might be in shock or have some internal injuries that you haven’t noticed yet.
After ensuring everyone’s immediate medical needs are taken care of, you might want to consider seeking legal advice. It’s often wise to consult with law firms with experience in automobile accidents, as they can help you navigate the complex legal landscape that might follow such an incident. This kind of professional guidance can be crucial in understanding your rights and responsibilities and ensuring that all legal aspects are properly handled.
Let Your Insurance Provider Know
You will need to let your car insurance provider know about the car accident a day or two after it has taken place. If the accident was caused by your teenager, do expect your rates to go up!
Unfortunately teenage driver car insurance rates are already high to begin with. But some cars are way cheaper to insure for a teen. Hopefully you already drive on!
They will then see whether or not you are eligible for a financial payout to cover the cost of car maintenance and fixtures.
Don’t Admit Responsibility
If you ever speak to the driver of the other vehicle, it’s important that you don’t say anything that could make you look responsible for the accident.
This is the case even if you know that it was your fault. Lawyers who deal with car accidents and personal injuries, always advise their clients to never admit responsibility as it could really damage their chances of claiming compensation in the court.
So, make sure you watch what you say!
Take A Photo Of The Crash
I’m sure that you or one of your passengers will have a camera phone on you, and you can use this to take a photo of the crash scene.
This can be used in court as evidence, as lawyers and the judge will use it to try to establish who was at fault. It’s also worth taking a quick picture of any tire or skid marks that are on the roads. These can usually be used to see if one of the cars was going faster than what it should have been.
Contact Emergency Services
It’s also paramount that you call the emergency services as soon as you can after the crash.
Then the paramedics can come to check everyone out and take anyone to hospital who needs further medical attention. The fire brigade will come and help rescue anyone who is trapped in a vehicle. The police can also take statements from everyone and see if anyone needs to be apprehended for speeding or drink driving.
Not only that, though, but the police will help control traffic around the crash scene if the crashed cars are still in the middle of the road.
Use your emergency fund wisely!
Most of us have some sort of emergency savings account.
A car accident, especially if you are at fault or the other driver doesn’t have insurance is the perfect time to dip into that for all the large and unplanned expenses.
If you don’t have one, now is the time to start one so you’re better prepared next time!
Final thoughts
Today, we walked through the scary and uncertain world following a bad fender bender.
Many of us will never experience a serious or life-threatening car accident. But if you do, these steps are crucial for making sure you and your family are both safe and financially protected.
Let’s hope you never have to use this checklist!
