What To Do After A Motor Vehicle Accident

Due to the risk of road accidents, most parents will agree to how nervous thins can get when one of their children are licensed to drive. Regardless of how cautious one might be, there is always a risk of getting into an accident. When it comes to new drivers however, the risk tends to be elevated.

You can’t live in dread of using the roads or completely avoid driving, even with the above in mind.

Having handled a variety of cases in the local Houston area, right up to larger ones that have received national coverage, Joe Stephens is a top attorney whose focus rests squarely on personal injury cases. Popularly known among his colleagues in Houston’s legal circles, he is highly respected. To help you find out more about what to do after being involved in a motor vehicle accident, we prepared the following guide after interviewing Joe Stephens and conducting our very own research.

If you find yourself in an auto accident, here are some useful tips on how you should handle this unfortunate occurrence.

Don’t Panic: When you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, it is normal for you to get emotional. The first thing to do is get away from the accident, whether that is a rear end accident or a rollover car accident. However, if you don’t want to miss any of the events happening around at this important point in time, it’s essential that you keep calm. Avoid panicking. To do this, we recommend that you breathe deeply and count to twenty. This will not only keep you from panicking, but will also help you make sober choices.

Assess Any Passengers in The Vehicle: You need to assess the condition of any passengers in your vehicle. Remember that some injuries may be hidden. Seek assistance or call rescue services if anyone in your car is feeling dizzy or in pain. When talking to a dispatcher, be sure to give them all your identification information, including your phone number and name, in a calm and collected tone. You should also give them an account of what transpired as well as your location. Wait for assistance to arrive before you hang up.

Put Up Early Warning Signs: You can move your car away from the road to avoid obstructing traffic, if you are involved in a small accident and local traffic rules allow it. If this is not the case, put up early warning signs to alert other road users.

Exchange Information With The Other Driver: Reach out to the other driver and exchange important identification details including their contact number license information, and name. Remember to get their insurance details as well.

Document Important Details Of The Accident: Once you have exchanged information with the other driver, take the time to document every detail of the accident. It is essential that you create a detailed description of the occurrence. The weather conditions, date and time should be captured in the description. The type of vehicle (car, bike or motorbike), direction of each vehicle, traffic signals, streets are among the other details to be captured in your record of the incident. Document the scene by taking videos and photos. If this is not possible, you can capture each vehicle’s location and direction of travel using accurate drawings.

Interview Witnesses: You should also get the names and contact details of any witnesses at the scene, in addition to their account of what happened. Settling the matter of the accident is easier with eye witness accounts as they offer detailed insight into what happened. It will be easier for you to prove who was at fault to your insurer or in a courtroom, if it goes that far, with all the evidence you have collected.

Always call the police, and consider contacting an attorney for advice, if you are involved in a serious motor vehicle accident..

In the days, or hours, coming after being involved in a serious road accident, it is normal to experience persistent feelings of guilt or fear. Be sure to talk to your close friends or family members as these traumatic feelings become too much to bear. This way, you will be able to deal with what happened in a healthier way. Furthermore, getting back to your normal life won’t take too much time.