If you are involved in a car accident with another vehicle, chances are you’ll be dealing with the consequences for some time. And if your car is badly damaged or if someone is hurt, it can seem overwhelming – but there’s a lot you can do to help make sure everything goes smoothly, and everyone is properly protected.
So here we’ve come up with some tips on how to deal with the aftermath of a road accident that wasn’t your fault…
- Give yourself plenty of time so that any effects of the crash don’t interfere too much with your ability to concentrate on what follows – and try not to feel under pressure from anyone else involved. All conversations should take place in a quiet environment and, if possible, away from the scene.
- Any witnesses to the incident should be given your name and contact details if they need to speak to you again. Make sure you ask for their details too to write everything down once you get home – this will save any confusion about who said what later on.
- If necessary, call an ambulance (if there are any injuries or other evidence of impact) and go through the normal checks: pulse, breathing, and blood pressure. If someone’s hurt, it’s best to assume that they have a head injury until proven otherwise, so always ask them clearly, “are you OK?” – if they don’t usually respond, then go through the motions of checking whether they are conscious, breathing and bleeding.
- Note that if there are passengers in the car with you, they won’t have any legal responsibility to say or do anything until a trained professional has checked them over – so it’s best to wait for an ambulance crew or other medical provider before asking questions about how they’re feeling. Also, don’t forget to look on the ground around you for items belonging to others involved in the crash, such as sunglasses or phones, which could be easily missed once all the excitement is over.
- As soon as possible, make sure you’ve contacted anyone who may need to be informed of what happened:
- Let your breakdown cover provider know (so they can send someone out).
- Let friends and family know that everything is okay.
- Don’t be afraid to ask your insurer if someone else’s insurance might cover the damage; it’s better to assume that you’re covered and put in a claim later than discover that you weren’t by checking first.
- If possible, take photos of the damage – ideally from as many angles as possible – and collect any witness statements from bus drivers or other motorists who saw what happened. If there are any injuries, make sure someone has taken photos once medical assistance arrives.
- Make sure that anyone involved in the accident goes through a complete physical examination so that their health can be monitored – even if they had no apparent injuries at the time. Still, everyone should have an eye test/teeth check-up within 48 hours to ensure they haven’t suffered any undiagnosed damage.
- If you’ve any injury after a car accident, then speak to your legal advisor or claim company as soon as possible – most have a 24-hour service so that they can deal with the immediate aftermath while allowing you time to recover from the shock and be able to give them all the information about what’s happened properly.
- And remember to take a good break after an accident, even if everything seems fine at the time: everyone has different reactions to road accidents, but it’s important not to rush into things straight away. Calling someone like this could be very distressing for both of you – especially if either driver is suffering from shock or trauma due to the event.
- If you are in an accident with an at-fault driver, see if they or their insurance company will compensate you for your damages and losses. If they do not, consider contacting a lawyer to help you sort through the legal issues.
Injuries that may occur after a Car Accident
There are four main types of car crash injuries.
- The first is blunt trauma, which happens when an object or part of the body hits another object with a lot of force. A person who suffers from blunt trauma may also suffer from internal bleeding, broken bones, and internal organ damage.
- Brain injuries are also prevalent in crashes because drivers and passengers often hit the inside of their skull against the hard surface of the car.
- If someone is ejected from a car during a crash or falls out after being released by a seat belt, they may suffer any number of fractures. For example, they could break an arm, leg, neck, or backbone.
- If parts of your clothing or seatbelt become trapped under your body during a crash, you can be cut or strangled.
Common Car Accident Injuries in Children
Children are particularly vulnerable to car accident injuries because they are smaller than adults and have weaker muscles. The most common child car accident injuries include:
- head trauma from hitting the windshield during a crash
- spinal cord damage from being struck by part of the body
- amputation if an article of clothing gets caught under their bodies
- burn injury from contact with hot metal or fire
- lacerations from glass fragments
Brain injuries happen very often because children’s heads are at a height well within range for heavy objects to hit them on impact. In addition, if a child is not wearing his seatbelt during a crash, he has an increased risk of being ejected from the car.
This puts him at a higher risk for injuries like broken bones and skull fractures. In addition, a child’s neck is not strong enough to hold up his head while his body keeps moving forward in a collision. Once again, this increases his risk of brain injury.
Common Car Accident Injuries in Elderly Drivers
Elderly drivers may sustain severe injuries in car accidents than younger ones because their bodies are less flexible, and the force of the impact could be greater due to increased mass.
- The most common types of car accident injuries among older drivers include brain trauma and internal bleeding. This is because they may improperly adjust themselves so that their heads hit the steering wheel on impact.
- Elderly drivers may also fracture their wrists and hands if they attempt to grab or brace themselves after an accident.
- Falls from cars are common among older drivers because they may not undo their seat belts quickly enough after the car stops. They are also more likely than younger people to have health problems that restrict motion or cause pain, hindering safe exit from a damaged vehicle.
Common Car Accident Injuries in Passengers
Car accidents are hazardous for passengers because they do not benefit from protecting a sturdy metal frame.
The most common injuries seen in car accident victims are,
- head trauma because seats often do not absorb force well
- spinal injury if shoulder straps, seat belts, airbags fail
- burns from contact with hot metal.
Passengers are at a higher risk of sustaining severe injuries because their car does not protect them, and the driver would be protected. The passenger compartment is designed to absorb some of the force created by an impact. If there is no frame to keep them in their seats, passengers have less protection against crash forces than drivers.
Common Car Accident Injuries in Drivers
The most common injuries for drivers include
- brain damage caused by hitting hard surfaces inside the car during collisions
- broken bones if they remain behind the wheel following impacts
- lacerations from blunt objects that become wedged between parts of their during a crash
Driving is hazardous because they must remain inside the car. If they attempt to move or get out after a collision, they may be struck by flying debris like broken glass or injured in secondary collisions caused by other vehicles colliding with the one that hit them.
If you have been involved in a severe car accident and face injuries like brain trauma, spinal cord injury, or amputation, call an experienced personal injury attorney. He can help you assess your condition and determine what compensation you are entitled to for medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You also need to consider contacting an auto safety equipment manufacturer if your seat belt fails during an impact so that the company can address any design flaws it finds. Do not claim before you speak with an attorney who can help you protect your rights and interests.
Takeaway:
When you’ve been injured in a car accident, you must understand your rights as an injured party. You may not be at fault for the crash but still, have injuries. If this sounds like what happened to you, contact me right away so I can help make sure your needs are met and protect your interests. At the same time, we work on getting compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering damages, lost wages, or other losses caused by someone else’s negligence. How has being involved in a car accident affected how you feel about driving? Let us know!