According to recent statistics, around 50,000 road accidents per year occur in the U.S. alone. This number only adds up each year, despite the stricter regulations and new laws. Motorized vehicles are among the least safe yet most widespread transportation means currently available. These estimates only worsen depending on the weather conditions and time of year. One major concern is the increasing negligence of drivers, often putting not only their lives but the lives of others at risk. Typing while driving, being reckless, displaying unethical behavior, and being unconcerned with minimal concentration and focus are significant reasons why these accidents happen. With all this said, knowing what to do immediately after an accident occurs can change the course of events later on. The following are some basic tips on how to respond and react in six phases following a car accident.
Immediately seek medical help
The first thing, never to be delayed, is to seek medical help immediately. People are in a state of uncertainty and shock minutes after an accident, frequently feeling numb and with no pain owing to the adrenaline rush when the body goes into survival mode, according to research. This state, therefore, convinces many that their need for medical assistance is not necessary. However, as it has been shown numerous times with whiplash accidents, the symptoms of a car crash can occur hours or even days after the incident has happened. It can cause serious injuries and damage later on and might manifest itself in a hidden form (people complain of headaches unaware of the neck injury they have sustained, causing the headache). Furthermore, these medical issues are harder to prove as time passes by. Not only can calling an ambulance, going to the ER, or calling your doctor for help minutes after the accident, reduce health complications, but medical reports and examinations are also important in later building a case for the court about the accident that occurred due to the other party's negligence.
Calling your lawyer
The two people with whom you are obliged to share all the details regarding the accident are your doctor and lawyer. Why a lawyer? For some, it seems unlikely the accident happened due to the negligence of another driver, as most go from the natural assumption that they could have stopped or slowed down. However, not every accident could have been prevented by you; what is even more, in the case of T-bone accidents, it is most certainly the other driver’s fault. T-bone accidents occur when the front end of a car collides with the side of another vehicle. The result is a T-shape position of the two collided cars, hence the name T-bone. These accidents most often occur because the other party did not take the necessary precautions, such as making sure there was no traffic as the driver approached an intersection. In conversation with specialists and a renowned T-bone accident lawyer in Texas, we found out that over 120,000 accidents happened in Texas alone in the year 2014, as opposed to the lower figures in the previous years. These estimates are mostly due to this type of accident, as intersections are part of every major highway, and, with the traffic circulation being high during rush hour, the chance of an incident occurring triples. Unfortunately, quite a portion of these accidents had a fatal outcome, while others resulted in serious injury to the driver and passengers. With this said, you can imagine how important it is to talk to your lawyer after such an accident, to prove your innocence, and to make sure your rights are met as you deserve.
Take photos and document the accident
Another important step to follow minutes after the accident is documenting the exact scene and place by taking video footage or photos of the crash. These can, later on, be used as important evidence in court as photographs can help you build a stronger case. It can also help you with insurance companies, as most are more than eager to skip payment by trying to find even the slightest mistake in your case.
Acting within the first three months of the accident
Unfortunately, there is something like an “expiration date” when it comes to accidents and road crashes. To win a case, to get proper compensation from your insurance company, and to protect your rights, you have to act within the first three months of the accident in an attempt to prevent possible complications and expiration.
You have a right to compensation even if the injuries manifest later on
There has been talk of whiplash injuries, a neck injury that occurs as a result of the sudden and fierce movement of the neck. This type of injury and similar ones can manifest later on, sometimes even weeks after the accident, in the form of mild to severe neck and head pain, numbness and tickling of your fingers and toes, and sharp pain down the spine. Though it may be more difficult to show and present adequate evidence as the symptoms develop, you can still file a compensation claim afterward. As a result, don't dismiss your rights just because days or weeks have passed.
Getting in touch with your insurance company
You’ll have to get in touch with your insurance company and make sure all the needed demands are met. You’ll need to get a copy of the police report, make sure to prove your innocence in the whole accident, and wait for the company to cover the expenses and all the costs. However, if you do not contact them right away, you might have a problem later on.
With statistics showing an increase in accidents per year, knowing how to act after one occurs can sometimes change your life for the better or worse.
