Many teenagers will agree, that once you hit the legal age to drive it can often be all you think about. The chance to be independent and go exactly where you want to go. Buying your first car and not having to endure public transport. Being in charge of your own freedom and independence. At that age, it can be such a big deal and it certainly feels like there will never be an issue that takes away that excitement of driving. Of course, once you have been on the road for some time, the novelty can wear off a little. Sure you may get the same level of excitement when investing in a state of the art car, or buying the car of your dreams, but driving just becomes a means to an end. A part of your daily life.
However, accidents do happen, and often they are when we least expect it. Whether you are at fault, or whether someone happens to crash into you, the aftermath can be overwhelming, and we can often not take on fully exactly what should be done in that situation. Have you ever asked yourself what should you do after an auto accident? Have you ever contemplated how you might feel, what you might say, or how you might act? While no one wishes this on you, it is always wise to ensure that you are fully informed. With that in mind, here are some of the forgotten aspects of being involved in a car acc
Making sure you get enough evidence of the event
First things first, you need to ensure that you get as much evidence as you can. This means getting your smartphone out and taking pictures. Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle and any other vehicles involved. Take a picture of the scene, the junction you came out of, or where the accident took place. All of these pictures will be important when discussing your claim with your insurance company and any attorney you get involved after in regards to compensation.
Obtaining witness details
Some people can be too focused on gaining the details of the other drivers involved, but actually, if you find yourself in a position where others have witnessed the accident make sure you get those details as well. Anyone that can corroborate your story and help with your claim, be that if it is your fault or not, is going to help. This could be good if the accident is your fault as some people could exaggerate your speed or where you were, making the accident sound worse, a witness is someone not involved and they will dictate what actually happened, which could help with any claim moving forward.
Getting in touch with your insurance company as soon as possible
What you must do at your earliest convenience is get in touch with your insurance company and tell them your car has been involved in an accident. Your vehicle may not be drivable, and therefore, you may need a courtesy car or for your car to be towed away for repair. Your insurance will want to be involved in where the car goes, so please don’t forget to get in touch with them. This could certainly help you move things forward quickly. It is also important for you to ensure that you seek out advice legally as well, and this is when competent car accident lawyers at your service could be essential. They can help advise on other matters that your insurance company may not get involved with.
Letting any other authorities aware of the accident
You may find that you need to also let other people know about your accident, most importantly the police. However, if there have been any injuries endured because of the accident you may also want to notify an ambulance. They are medically trained to ensure that any treatment is given first hand. If you are injured, it is important for you to be seen by a professional as soon as possible to determine how bad your injuries are. You may be high on adrenaline, which could cause you to go into shock, so you may want to think about speaking to someone to ensure that you won’t do any damage moving forward.
How you are feeling physically?
You need to take some time out to figure out exactly how you are feeling physically. This is why it is important to seek out a medical professional such as a paramedic or at least taking yourself to the hospital or doctors later on. Shock can mean that you don’t feel anything, but actually, a collision in a car can cause all sorts of damage such as whiplash to your neck, back pain or even head injury. Be careful and ensure that you take a moment to check yourself over.
How you are feeling mentally?
Mentally, you probably have no idea how you are feeling. The shock could make you emotional, perhaps confused or even frustrated that the event has occurred. For some, the mental impact of a car accident doesn’t kick in until a few hours later. You find that you may start to feel anxious when on the road again, maybe you find that you feel overly emotional when talking about it or it could even begin the route of depression if the accident was quite severe. How you feel physically can also impact your mental health. If you are in pain or finding it hard to do things, then this can make you upset or frustrated. Take the time to consider your feelings.
The aftermath and confidence issues
Finally, the aftermath of the accident can be a journey that is as long or as short as you want it to be. Some people find that their confidence in driving will have been knocked. Perhaps struggling to go back to the scene of the accident or even have flashbacks of the event. All of these things are completely normal and the best advice is to take things slow. Try and get back behind the wheel as soon as you can, it’s like anything, the quicker you get back on the horse the less impact it will have on your ability. But, of course, don’t try and do too much. Get the vehicle fixed and feel confident in your ability.
Accidents happen all the time, but it is how you handle them and move forward from them that helps you get through.
