Legal Guide

3 Things You Need to Do After a Car Accident

Although everyone tries to avoid them, most people will be involved in a road traffic accident at some point or another. With more than 6 million car crashes occurring in the U.S. every year, a considerable number of people are affected by accidents on the road.

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No matter how minor the incident is, being involved in any type of collision can be scary and overwhelming. However, it’s important to know what to do in the aftermath of a collision. If you’re unsure, take a look at these three things you should do after a car accident:

1. Seek Medical Help

Depending on the severity of accident, you may require urgent medical assistance. 4.4 million people require medical assistance every year due to road traffic accidents, so don’t hesitate to seek help if you require it.

Even if you don’t think you’ve been badly hurt, it can be worth visiting the E.R. or seeing a doctor after an accident. Often, the initial shock and adrenaline masks pain and discomfort, which means you might not realize how badly you’ve been hurt straight away. By getting a check-up, you can ensure that you obtain any treatment you need.

2. Inform the Police

When a serious road traffic incident occurs, the police will attend in order to assist the people who have been affected and make the road safe. In addition to this, the police may need to investigate the accident to determine what caused it.

If a driver was speeding or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, for example, they may be arrested and charged with a criminal offence. By reporting the accident to police, you can obtain a subsequent report, if you need to, and access help in the minutes and hours following the collision.

3. Get Legal Advice

If you’ve been hurt due to a road traffic incident that wasn’t your fault, you could be eligible to receive compensation. By contacting a car accident lawyer Las Vegas, for example, you can find out if you’re able to make a claim and obtain compensation for your injuries. Even relatively minor accidents can have a long-term impact on your wellbeing, so you might be surprised at how much compensation you’re awarded.

However, there are time limits on how long you’ve got to take action after this type of incident. While you don’t have to make your claim within days of the incident, you may want to begin the process sooner, rather than later.

Coping with the Aftermath of an Accident

When you’ve been involved in a car accident or a road traffic incident, it’s important to take good care of yourself. As well as obtaining any medical treatment you need, try to rest and allow yourself to recover from the shock. If you’ve been involved in a serious accident, you may feel anxious or have trouble sleeping in the days afterwards. By seeking help from your doctor and talking about your experience, you can begin to deal with the incident and the impact it has had on you.


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