Car Accident Tips
Despite advances in engineering and continual safety campaigns, driving remains a dangerous activity in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports there are more than 30,000 deaths and over 2 million injuries from motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. every year. If you do find yourself in an auto accident, there are things you can do to make the aftermath less stressful.
First off, take a few deep breaths; it’s normal to feel shock, guilt, fear, nervousness, or anger after an accident—deep breathing will calm you down, and make you better prepared for what’s coming next. Try to determine whether the accident has been very serious, and pay particular attention to your head and neck—if you feel any strain at all, especially in a rear-end collision, there’s the possibility of whiplash. Stay calm; if you can’t get out of your car, or it’s not safe enough to try, keep your seatbelt on, turn on the four-way flashers, and call 911 from your cell phone. Wait for help to come to you. If the accident has not injured you, turn off the car, find your emergency kit, and set up some orange cones or flares around the crash site. If you have children in the car with you, the first thing you should do is keep them calm, and make sure they are unharmed.
If no one has been injured and your vehicle can be driven, try to move it out of traffic (the highway shoulder, a parking lot, even a driveway). But in some states, it’s illegal to move a car from the exact location where it stopped after a crash; your state’s DMV and highway authority have this information. Do a thorough physical exam of yourself; if you start to feel dizzy, or any kind of neck strain, call 911 to ask for emergency assistance—these injuries get worse without immediate medical care. Have the following details ready for the 911 dispatcher: your name and phone number; the nature of the accident scene (fire, traffic hazard, medical emergency); and where the emergency is happening (city, road name and number, mile markers, travel direction, traffic —any identifying information). Stay on the phone until the dispatcher tells you to disconnect; they often repeat the information back to verify.
When dealing with the other driver or drivers, be polite, no matter who’s fault it seems to be. Exchange all the information you can with everyone there: names, phone numbers, drivers licenses, license plate numbers, insurance information. The police don’t always come to an accident scene where there have been no injuries; but you can ask them to mediate (and, if there’s no more pressing situation at the station, it’s their responsibility to come), to help determine who was at fault. If they don’t show up, file a vehicle incident report at a police station. Take some notes on the crash, and photos with your cell phone’s camera; these will help courts and insurance agencies assign fault. You might want to make a diagram of where the cars were. Don’t ever admit fault at the scene; it might not have been your fault, but if you say it is, that’s it.
And if you have been injured in the car accident, contact 844 See Mike, for a free consultation at 312-224-4695. 844 See Mike, handles personal injury cases throughout Illinois. 844 See Mike, will handle your personal injury case quickly, will advise you every step of the way, and will not hesitate to go to trial for you. This litigation strategy will provide you with the best possible compensation.
Lastly, 844 See Mike, does not get paid attorney’s fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. Therefore, you have nothing to risk when you hire our Chicago personal injury law firm–just the opportunity to seek justice. Call us today at 312-224-4695.
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