While many of us might like to go through life assuming that we will never be in danger, especially on the road, that can be short-sighted. Rather than letting yourself be blind-sided by an accident, it’s a good idea to have a plan on how to make the situation as safe as possible, as quickly as possible. Here, we’re going to look at how you do just that.

Securing yourself and your vehicle

The first step is to stop the car as soon as you can following an accident. Before you get out, make sure that you turn off the engine, turn on the hazard lights and check both you and your passengers for any injuries. If anyone is hurt or the collision has blocked the road, get in touch with the emergency services. If you need to apply any first aid, then be sure to do so without disrupting or moving people too much. Preferably, you should help under the advisement of emergency services on the other end of the line.

Call for help when you’re safe

Who you call in the aftermath of an accident will dictate who you should get in touch with. No matter what happens, getting in touch with your insurance providers is recommended, as failing to disclose an accident then later filing or receiving a claim will hurt your case. Getting in touch with the best and brightest car accident lawyers is recommended too, no matter what. If the other driver has no insurance, seems under the influence, or drives away without trading insurance details, you should call the police.

Protect yourself legally, too

As well as calling any legal help that you might need, it’s wise to make sure you’re taking steps to protect yourself from claims or protecting your ability to make a claim if needs be. Once you are certain everyone is safe, take the time to get the details of any witnesses willing to back you. You can also take photos of the area and the site of the accident to help support your story. If you’re talking to the other drivers or passengers involved, you may feel compelled to apologize or in some way take responsibility, even when it doesn’t rightfully lie with you. Do not do this, as this can be used against you later.

Don’t skip the doctor’s visit

Even if you don’t seem or feel injured following an accident, you should take the time to visit your doctor at some point after you have safely secured yourself away from the scene. Many of the injuries caused by accidents, such as whiplash and other musculoskeletal issues might not manifest until hours or even a day after the initial collision. Furthermore, if you’re making a claim, you might have difficulty trying to cover the costs of medical treatments that you waited too long to seek, as well.
Of course, prevention through safer driving is the single best approach when it comes to the topic of collisions and accidents on the road. But still, preparation is the best defence against additional risk in the aftermath, so keep the tips above in mind.