Since most individuals are not involved in a great number of automobile accidents during their lifetimes, they often do not plan ahead for what to do in the event of an accident. Instead, most individuals cope with the stress and anguish of an auto collision when it is happening.
Most people have some concept of what to do in the aftermath of a vehicle accident, but they often fail to take vitally critical steps. The consequences of such carelessness might be severe in the long term. In case you are involved in a car crash in Philadelphia, this is what you should do.
Take A Look At Your Injuries
If you were in a car accident, the first thing you should do is make sure you are physically well. The suddenness of the accident often causes disorientation. But if the haziness persists or is accompanied by other symptoms like dizziness, headache, or lightheadedness, you may have sustained a serious brain injury, such as a concussion.
When you’ve figured out what occurred swiftly, focus on the remainder of your body. Broken bones and deep cuts are two examples of injuries that will be readily apparent. Still, there are some whose effects are more subtle. A spinal injury is suspected if you have neck or back discomfort, or if you also feel numbness or tingling in your limbs. You should wait for emergency responders to arrive before moving.
Feelings may shift after a collision, so pay attention to how you’re feeling. The adrenaline after a collision may prevent you from feeling the effects of any wounds until days later.
Inform The Authorities And Ask For Help
After you have completed your own assessment, you should dial 911 if you feel it is required. In the event that there are serious injuries, it is very necessary to call for medical assistance as quickly as possible.
Notify the dispatcher that there has been an accident, including specifics such as the location, the number of automobiles involved, and whether or not there have been injuries. Please clarify which of these wounds are very serious.
Include the fact that the incident caused one of the vehicles to begin leaking fluid after it occurred if that’s the case. Because it is possible that it is fuel, the fire department might also need to send a team out to investigate and contain the leakage.
There also may be a need for a towing company to come to the scene if the car is non-drivable or damaged beyond repair to take it to a mechanic or even to some of the salvage yards in Philadelphia where you can recycle your vehicle and get compensation for your wrecked vehicle.
Stay At The Crash Site
When someone escapes the scene of an accident, they put themselves at risk of being charged with hit-and-run. If your car sustained any kind of damage, you are required to remain at the scene of the incident. It is imperative that you remain at the site of the accident if someone has been injured or killed for you to avoid a felony conviction for hit-and-run.
Watch Out For Others And Make Sure They Are Fine
In the event that you are not in imminent danger, call 911 and then check on the well-being of the other people in the area. If you observe someone who seems to have suffered significant injuries as a result of the accident, you should do all in your power to help them without placing yourself in danger in the process.
Collect Information From All Parties Involved
After ensuring that everyone is okay and that the emergency services have come, you need to collect the following information from the other people who were involved in the collision:
- The complete list of names of the accident victims
- Identifying details from drivers’ licenses
- Contact information, including phone numbers
- Details regarding their coverage
In addition, if there were any others who were not involved in the accident but saw what happened, obtaining the following information from those people may be of great use to your case in the long run:
- The name of this person;
- Information about how to get in touch with them, such as a phone number.
Last but not least, if you have a camera with you, snapping images of the accident might serve as documentation of what occurred.
What To Say And What Not To Say After A Vehicle Accident
After a vehicle accident, one of the best things you can do is to be quiet. It might be tough to prove your innocence after apologizing for something you did not commit. Just claim you’re not sure, that the cops will figure it out, or don’t say anything at all if someone asks you what happened.
Final Thoughts
After making sure all these are done, call a legal representative. Having one makes the process much simpler to protect your rights and interests, both with your own insurance company and against other motorists who may accuse you of being at fault for the crash. Having legal representation will protect you against faulty accusations as well as take care of your health and physical loos being compensated.
