No one intends to have a car accident, and it is called an accident for a reason. But, unfortunately, sometimes, due to divided attention and improper focus on the road, individuals often end up crashing their cars, resulting in injuries or even casualties in extreme situations.
Australia witnesses over 90 injuries and four deaths daily due to road accidents – this is alarming and can be lowered if proper measures are taken to deal with a car accident situation. We will be highlighting the necessary steps any victim involved in an accident should take to avoid getting further caught up in an already unwanted situation.
- ALWAYS REMEMBER TO STOP
Even if you caused the accident and it is a small one, do not flee the scene. This will lead to much harsher penalties. You won’t be able to get away from the situation by driving away; it will ultimately catch up to you, and you will be held accountable for your actions.
- SAFEGUARD THE AREA
If there has been an accident, other drivers driving on the same route are most likely not aware of it, resulting in another accident. To do this, you can keep your indicator lights on on or set up highly visible signs that will indicate to others about the situation. If you cannot take any of these preventive measures, just turn your phone’s flashlight on to direct others.
- INFORM THE POLICE
As soon as an accident occurs, it would help if you immediately informed the police about it to handle the situation appropriately. It does not matter if there aren’t injuries; the local police are highly trained at dealing with these events and they know all the protocols. Ensure the vehicle remains stationary unless it is interrupting traffic. Also, a police report is necessary to make an insurance claim, even if it is about the damage incurred by your motor vehicle.
- FILE A GENUINE REPORT
At the time the police are inquiring about the mishap, make sure you state all the facts truthfully. Inform them exactly why and how this accident occurred, to the best of your knowledge. Avoid any sort of speculation and guesses; if you aren’t sure about a specific detail, let the officer know clearly. For example, if the officer asks you whether you have suffered any injuries and aren’t too sure, say ‘I am not too sure’ rather than ‘no.’ Apart from your own statement, verify that others make honest statements as well.
- TAKE SNAPS OF THE SCENE
If you have a camera in your car or a mobile phone with a camera, you should snap photographs of the vehicles involved if there is apparent damage. If you have any obvious injuries, you should also take pictures of them. You must not, obviously, impede the routine police inquiry. If you are unable to snap photographs at the site of the incident, do so as early as possible later on.
- GIVE-AND-TAKE INFO
The police officer’s job is to jot down all the details regarding the car accident, such as the name and information of the involved individuals, their phone and plate numbers, etc. In a case where there is no officer present, due to no or delayed response, it is best to handle the situation similarly. Note down the information of everyone involved in the accident.
Additionally, it would be best to ask essential questions from any witnesses as well, as they will most likely be needed later on to verify the details of the accident. If the police arrive on time, they will take all the details and then give you a reporting number through which you can get the police report.
- INFORM THE INSURANCE COMPANY
After an accident, inform your insurance company as soon as possible as most insurance companies in Perth and Australia as a whole necessitate immediate report filing along with complete cooperation. If someone else was at fault and you have incurred injuries, get all the medical bills and records from the hospital and submit them along with the police report to the Insurance Commission of WA.
You will usually be reimbursed for all your expenses once you have submitted the documents and information. Every passenger in your vehicle can make a claim to the Insurance Commission of WA for their injuries. If you or your passengers require assistance with their injury claims they should contact motor vehicle injury lawyers Perth.
- GET MEDICAL HELP
It is highly recommended to get yourself examined by a doctor after any car accident. It may seem that you have suffered no injuries, but minor ones amplify and may worsen over time if not taken care of. It is not surprising that sometimes injuries may only become apparent after a few days of the accident. To ensure that you are safe and secure, visit any local physician who will consult and confirm whether you are good to go or not.
- MAINTAIN A PERSONAL FILE
Organize all of your accident-related paperwork and info, including a claim number and details of the claim’s investigator who manages the case. Furthermore, it should also include the names and phone numbers of all contacts, receipts for a rental car, and other expenditures incurred due to the incident must all be included in this file.
- CONSULT YOUR LAWYER
Hiring and consulting a lawyer with respect to your injury claim is often a wise move. A personal injury lawyer will take the necessary steps to ensure the protection of your rights and will gather evidence in support of your claim. The lawyer will guide you regarding any statements you have to make, for example, to your insurance company. They will do what is necessary to ensure that you are compensated for your property damage losses and your injuries.
FINAL THOUGHTS
We hope that if you are unfortunately involved in a car accident that we have helped you to know what steps to take both immediately after the car crash and once you have sought help for any injuries that you may have suffered. We hope that you stay safe on the road.
