Important Steps You Should Take Following a Vehicular Accident on the Road
If you become a victim of a vehicular accident and would like to make sure you can receive compensation for either your vehicle or any physical injuries you have sustained, it always pays to know what to do following any type of road traffic accident.
Keep the following steps in mind, and if you ever become involved in a road traffic accident, you will know exactly what to do and how to go about it and will not end up with a bigger problem on your hands.
- Call the authorities
The very first thing you should do as soon you are involved in a road traffic accident is to call the relevant authorities – and this includes the police and ambulance service. This is especially crucial if you or another person have sustained a physical injury.
- Get the other driver’s details
Whilst waiting for the police and ambulance to arrive, get the other driver’s details, including their name and address, their telephone number and mobile number, and their insurance information. You should also take down their vehicle’s registration number as well as its make and model.
- Take photos
If you have a camera or smart phone, it would be best to take photos of the scene of the accident and the damage to your vehicle. This is crucial for road traffic accident claims, as these photos can serve as evidence in court.
If, however, you do not have a camera or smart phone with you at the time, you should make it a point to visit the scene as soon as possible (or have someone else visit it) and take photos of any skid or tire marks on the road which you may use as evidence later on.
- Get any witness contact information
If there are any witnesses to the road accident, get their contact details as well. They may be able to give their own evidence as to the circumstances of the accident in order to prove your claim.
- Visit hospital and have your injuries examined
This goes without saying, of course, but you should also make sure to have yourself thoroughly examined by the GP and have them keep a record of the extent of your injuries. At the same time, any specialist solicitor (such as those from http://shireslaw.com) would tell you how important it is to let a GP know of any pain you may have at the time, no matter how insignificant, so they can keep a record of this as well.
Keep in mind that there are certain injuries, such as injuries to the neck or whiplash, that do not show themselves immediately following the accident. If you feel any symptoms of this, visit hospital right away.
- Inform your motor insurance firm about the accident
Another thing you should do is inform your motor insurance provider about your road accident as soon as you can. This is important if you want to know whether your policy covers the legal expenses if ever you decide to make a claim.
- Keep records and diaries of the accident
If you decide to make a claim for compensation, you should keep records of the accident, including a diary where you can write down the details of your injury and its symptoms along with the date when these symptoms occur. You should also note down any psychological or emotional symptoms, such as sleeplessness, restlessness, and even a fear or phobia of driving.
Any receipts and other records related to the accident should also be kept, including those for vehicular repair, towing, and storage, as well as work absence records, travel receipts to and from hospital, and loss of income due to the injuries you have sustained.
Image attributed to nitinut/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Remi Ashton
Important Steps You Should Take Following a Vehicular Accident on the Road
If you become a victim of a vehicular accident and would like to make sure you can receive compensation for either your vehicle or any physical injuries you have sustained, it always pays to know what to do following any type of road traffic accident.
Keep the following steps in mind, and if you ever become involved in a road traffic accident, you will know exactly what to do and how to go about it and will not end up with a bigger problem on your hands.
- Call the authorities
The very first thing you should do as soon you are involved in a road traffic accident is to call the relevant authorities – and this includes the police and ambulance service. This is especially crucial if you or another person have sustained a physical injury.
- Get the other driver’s details
Whilst waiting for the police and ambulance to arrive, get the other driver’s details, including their name and address, their telephone number and mobile number, and their insurance information. You should also take down their vehicle’s registration number as well as its make and model.
- Take photos
If you have a camera or smart phone, it would be best to take photos of the scene of the accident and the damage to your vehicle. This is crucial for road traffic accident claims, as these photos can serve as evidence in court.
If, however, you do not have a camera or smart phone with you at the time, you should make it a point to visit the scene as soon as possible (or have someone else visit it) and take photos of any skid or tire marks on the road which you may use as evidence later on.
- Get any witness contact information
If there are any witnesses to the road accident, get their contact details as well. They may be able to give their own evidence as to the circumstances of the accident in order to prove your claim.
- Visit hospital and have your injuries examined
This goes without saying, of course, but you should also make sure to have yourself thoroughly examined by the GP and have them keep a record of the extent of your injuries. At the same time, any specialist solicitor (such as those from http://shireslaw.com) would tell you how important it is to let a GP know of any pain you may have at the time, no matter how insignificant, so they can keep a record of this as well.
Keep in mind that there are certain injuries, such as injuries to the neck or whiplash, that do not show themselves immediately following the accident. If you feel any symptoms of this, visit hospital right away.
- Inform your motor insurance firm about the accident
Another thing you should do is inform your motor insurance provider about your road accident as soon as you can. This is important if you want to know whether your policy covers the legal expenses if ever you decide to make a claim.
- Keep records and diaries of the accident
If you decide to make a claim for compensation, you should keep records of the accident, including a diary where you can write down the details of your injury and its symptoms along with the date when these symptoms occur. You should also note down any psychological or emotional symptoms, such as sleeplessness, restlessness, and even a fear or phobia of driving.
Any receipts and other records related to the accident should also be kept, including those for vehicular repair, towing, and storage, as well as work absence records, travel receipts to and from hospital, and loss of income due to the injuries you have sustained.
Image attributed to nitinut/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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