Have you ever wondered what you should do if you are involved in a car accident? Many people do and today we are going to discuss this very situation.
Every single day we take safety precautions while driving on the road including keeping a safe distance from other automobiles, properly maintaining our vehicles and using our seatbelts. However, no matter how careful you are, unexpected events will happen. If your car breaks down our you are involved or injured in a rollover accident, the following tips are essential to staying safe and managing the situation.
10 Steps You Need to Follow after a Car Accident
It is essential to stop your vehicle. You should never under any circumstances leave the scene of an accident. If the other driver should leave, be sure to write down their license plate so that the proper authorities will be able to locate them. Additionally, if at all possible try to take photographs and video of the scene as well as any damage and injuries.
While it may be hard to do it is important to stay is as calm as possible. Take the time to ensure everyone is okay at the scene of the accident, then check for any vehicle damage. The other party might try to make you make quick decisions however, stay calm and do not let that happen. You need to take the time to fully assess the situation.
Check your surroundings for any potential hazards. It is essential that you watch for any oncoming traffic and try your best to warn them through the use of hazard lights. If at all possible, use reflectors or flares to warn traffic.
It is essential that you call for help as soon as possible. If the accident is serious, do not waste time and call 911 immediately.
Take the time to address any serious injuries the scene of the accident. Most importantly try to keep people warm and calm and never move them unless they are in serious danger.
The gathering of information is an essential aspect following an accident. When you know all involved in the accident are fine, it is essential to gather as much information as possible. Be sure to try to collect the following:
The names of all drivers involved, insurance information as well as license plate numbers.
– Makes and models of all cars involved
– Locations of each vehicle
– Names and addresses of all witnesses
Filing The Report After an accident, it is important to contact the local authorities and file a report, even if the accident is minor. Every municipality is going to be different, therefore it is important to check with the authorities on how and when to file a report.
Take Photographic Evidence Be sure to take photographs of every vehicle that is involved in the accident, any damage to the vehicles, the area of the accident as well as any other drivers and passengers.
Move Vehicle From The Main Road If it is safe, try to remove the vehicle from the flow of traffic. If the vehicle is too damaged, set up emergency flares and have it towed.
Limit Discussions With Other Drivers It is best to keep discussions about the accident to a minimum when discussing with the other driver, this also includes any form of apologies. Discuss the accident only with your insurance company and police.
You want to keep a copy of the accident report form in the glove compartment of every car you own. If you do qualify for accident forgiveness, you may be covered if this is your first accident. Additionally, with our Claims Guarantee, you may call us at any time for risk-free claims counselling.
How To Deal With A Vehicle Breakdown
There is perhaps nothing more inconvenience and having your car break down. Aside from it be in inconvenient, it also puts you in a dangerous the situation. The following is what you need to do if your car breaks down or is beginning to show signs of trouble.
As soon as you feel your car is in some form of trouble, try to move it to the side of the road.
Once you have a new verdict to the side of the road, place your hazard lights on. If it is at night, it is best to turn your vehicle’s interior lights on as well.
Change Flat Tires In A Safe Area Even with a flat tire, it is best to try to get as far off of the road as possible. Once you are safely off the road and out of the way of traffic, you may change your tire as you normally would.
Call For Assistance If you’re unable to fix your car immediately, contact the local authorities or seek out professional help. Never under any circumstances try to flag down another driver.
It is best to stay inside of your vehicle with all of the doors locked, just ensure that exhaust fumes are not getting inside of the car.
You may want to consider walking to help if it is local, however, never put your own safety at risk. Additionally, you want to walk as far away from traffic as possible.
Emergency Kits You should always have an emergency kit within your vehicle that includes flares, flashlight, bottles of water, blankets and any other necessities.
Finally, try to learn how to do simple vehicle repairs such as checking your oil, connecting a battery and changing a tire as these are all essential roadside needs.
Leave a Reply