What to do Immediately After a Vehicular Accident

Cars are incredibly important for society, but everything has a downside. It is estimated that over two million people are injured in a vehicular accident each year in the US. The following are just a few steps to take should you ever be involved in a car accident.

Anticipate the Accident

It is important to prepare for an accident, even if one never occurs. The reason is it can help you during a tough situation. For one, you should carry emergency cones in your car. These signals can help redirect traffic and keep you safe while you wait for assistance. It might be a good idea to carry emergency flares, too. These can signal for help should an accident occur in a remote road where help may not show up for a while. Of course, carrying a first aid kit might also be a good idea.

Be Calm

It is important to stay calm during a situation like this one. Stress releases neurotransmitters such as cortisol. This chemical helps blood move quickly to close wounds should there be injuries, but this neurotransmitter can also clog the mind if too much is released. You need to be as sharp as possible to make good choices after an accident. Try relaxing exercises like counting backwards from 10 or taking deep, long breaths.

Assess the Situation

The next thing you want to do is figure out how dire the situation is. Check yourself and others in the car for injuries. Start with yourself because you may not be too helpful to others if you are badly injured. Keep in mind that numbness could be a sign of deeper trauma. Do not make sudden movements should you notice any displaced bones because you could make it worse. Assessing the state of everyone involved should help you figure out your next move.

Call the Right People

Any injury needs to be treated by a professional, so it might be a good idea to call an ambulance first. Now, be sure to the Sloan Firm right after because your vehicular damage and your injuries are going to cost you some money. There is no reason why you should be responsible for these bills if another person or entity bares some or all of the responsibility. An entity could be the city where the accident happened if the roads were not taken care of. Your lawyer might suggest that you write down everything that occurred before, during, and after the accident. You can write down notes on your phone or on paper. A police officer may arrive to take a few notes regarding the accident. Never admit that it was your fault; just tell the officer your account of what happened and nothing else. You should also give your insurance company a call but do so after talking to a lawyer so that you know what to say.

Gather up Information

This might also be the best time to gather up witness information because you may need it. You do not have to get full statements though that would be best. Just use your phone to record a statement and get contact information, which could prove helpful later. Be sure to state that you are going to record a statement, and make sure that the witness agrees to this because certain states have specific rules about recording. You can ask your lawyer about this just to make sure you are doing everything right.

These are just a few of the steps you need to take right after an accident. Hopefully, you never have to deal with this, but these tips should help prepare you because life has a way of catching you off guard.