Life is all too fragile and fleeting. One moment, a person could be casually riding down the street in your bike, and the next, they’re thrown off course by a colliding vehicle. Their entire life could change from that one accident, and they would have been no way to prepare themselves for it. Or even afterward.
Humanity is cruel that way, but that never stopped people from living their lives and riding their cars or bikes. They simply learned how to avoid ever putting themselves in harm’s way and to hope that the repercussions of being in an accident won’t be too bad that it will alter their lives forever. But there’s no telling what happens next.
That’s why it’s better to be prepared when you’re facing the unforeseeable. Even having a plan about what you should do in case something happens is better than not knowing how to react when it does. If you’re left clueless and shocked at the sudden turn of events, it will be more difficult to move forward.
So, even if you think you’ll never find yourself involved in a road accident during this lifetime, it could be a good backup plan to learn what you should do. If you’re fortunate, you’ll never have to use this piece of knowledge or put this plan to action, but just like that adage, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Here’s a four-step plan about what you can do if you’re ever in a road accident:
Step 1: Take Photos of the Scene as Evidence
If there are no other witnesses around during the accident, your photos will be the only proof you have besides your own testimony. Without those photos of the scene, it will be your word against the other party’s word, and you might not be able to build a strong case with that alone.
Photos are often considered crucial evidence, so they must show what happened during the accident. Of course, you can only do this if you’re conscious and not severely injured, which means you should make sure that you’re okay first before taking photos of the scene. Your safety should always come first.
Step 2: Get the Other Driver’s Contact Details
Before you and the other driver part ways, you must exchange real contact details first. This way, you can contact one another if there’s ever a problem with the insurance or if you will sue for damages. Don’t let them leave until you’re sure that you have the right details, especially because you can never be too careful with people nowadays.
It will be more difficult to receive the compensation you deserve if you no longer have the means to contact the other driver involved in the accident or vice versa. Besides, it’s just common decency at this point, so there’s no reason for any of you to flee the scene or give out fake contact details.
Step 3: Hire the Right Legal Representative
If you believe that the other party caused the road accident and that you were just collateral damage, you will need the right legal representative to back up your claims. It will be hard to fight against the other party without a lawyer by your side, so it will be best to leave this at the hands of a professional.
But keep in mind that all lawyers have different specialties. For instance, you can’t hire a family lawyer to handle a motorcycle accident, just like it doesn’t work the other way around. In this case, you will need a motorcycle injury attorney to represent you and work with your best interests at heart.
Step 4: File a Personal Injury Claim
Lastly, if you experience severe injuries or sustain any damages to your vehicle, you can file a personal injury claim to compensate for your losses. This claim can be used to cover the costs of your medical bills, prescriptions, and hospitalization, as well as the costs of repairing your vehicle.
But there could be times when the insurance company will refuse to provide the settlement amount in the claims. If this happens, you’ll need an experienced lawyer to support your claims and get you the proper amount of settlement that you deserve to receive.
All accidents can leave you feeling light-headed, and it can cause your emotions to skyrocket. When your emotions are heightened, it can be difficult to make the right calls and decisions, especially if you don’t know what steps you need to take. So use this four-step plan as a guide if you ever find yourself involved in an accident on the road. But hopefully, you’ll never have to use it.
