The chances of an accident occurring are always high when you are out on a drive as you can be at fault or the accident can be caused by other motorists on the road. Controlling the occurrence of an accident is impossible but you can always take control of the events that follow after an accident. Here is a guide on what to do after an accident.
If you are still conscious and of sound mind after an accident, the first thing you need to do is prevent the scenario from escalating and causing further fatalities. The impact on collision may not be severe and your car may be able to move and in such a scenario it is advisable that you take a safety measure and move your car to the side of the road and switch in hazard indicator signals so as to caution other road users. Fleeing from the scene of accident is a hit and run criminal offense punishable by law.
It is very important that you check yourself for injuries, your passengers in your car and also check the passengers of the other vehicle you have been involved in a collision with. If anyone has obtained some severe injuries or the cars are obstructing the road it is recommended that you immediately call in the emergency services.
Calling the police to the scene of the accident is a wise step you need to take. The main advantage of calling the police for them to file a legal record of the accident is that your insurance company may need the document once you make a claim with them. The record is also important when the other party involved in the accident makes a claim against you. It is recommended that you call the police if the other driver flees the scene, you suspect that the driver is under the influence, if you think the other driver caused the accident or suspect the other party lacks an insurance cover.
After the accident you should take a step of talking to the party and ascertain that they are okay. Avoid apologizing to the other party as this is a form of incriminating yourself and you should only do this as you seek their personal information. It is recommended that you only record the events of the accident when the police interrogate you. It is important that you take the other parties insurance details and verify them with the cars specific registration details and characteristics. It is also wise to collect evidence from the scene of accident such as photographs of the car and the area around the accident, the weather conditions, the time of the accident and also take contacts from individuals who witnessed the accident.
Lastly, it is important that you contact the insurance company covering your car after first aid has been administered to you. The process of your claim is initiated the moment you inform the insurer of the accident.