What to do if you are in an accident
In this day and age, accidents are unfortunately a part of life. It is important to be prepared if an accident should occur, even if you are not expecting to ever be in one. While it may be difficult to recall a list of steps in the heat of the moment, this list will help mentally prepare you in the event you are in an accident. While car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents all have their differences, here is a short list to follow should any incident occur:
1. Check to see if you are injured. First and foremost, check to see if you have sustained any injuries. Keep in mind that some injuries will not immediately be accompanied by pain right away.
2. Check your passengers. Immediately after checking yourself for injuries, check the well-being of your passengers, and ensure that they are safe and stable.
3. Call the authorities. It is important to call 9-1-1 as soon as feasible after an accident. This will ensure that police arrive as soon as possible to help with the situation.
4. Check on the other driver. In most cases, the other driver will be following these steps as well, however ensure that the other driver is not injured as soon as you can safely do so.
5. Ensure that you are out of harm’s way. If your vehicle, or both vehicles, are in the path of traffic, get yourself and your passengers out of the vehicle and away from other traffic as soon as possible. Once the police arrive, they may be interested in the locations of the vehicles at their points of rest, so do not move them unless instructed to do so.
6. Remain on scene as long as necessary.
7. Take pictures and video. Once things have calmed down, photograph the entire accident scene, including the damage to the vehicles, surroundings, and roadway. Try to identify the area of impact within the roadway, and document and photograph the location of any parts of the cars that were torn from the vehicles during the impact. More photographs and video is always better, and can be useful in the event that a dispute occurs. Veritech’s cutting edge Photogrammetry capabilities can help reconstruct an accident by using photographs or video of an accident scene and can be useful in creating forensic animations.
8. File an accident report. The police may be able to help you with this. If you are uncomfortable in providing a statement to the police, consult an attorney as soon as possible.
This list should provide general guidelines for one to follow in the event that a wreck occurs. More importantly, remember to drive defensively, follow the rules of the road, and look out for the other guy. Safe travels!