What To Do After A Collision
Motor accidents are always difficult experiences to cope with. It is easy for someone without any injuries to go into shock, due to the fright that they get from the collision. The flashing lights and wailing sirens that sometimes accompany an accident scene do nothing to calm the nerves. However, the most important thing that you can do is to remain calm. If you panic, you will not be helping yourself or anyone around you. The first thing you need to do is to make sure that anyone involved in the accident with you is not injured. If anyone, including you, requires immediate medical attention, the paramedics need to be called out. If you are alright, but anyone else seems to be badly injured, it is imperative that you do not move them until they can be seen to by a medical professional. Should you find that you are completely unable to conduct yourself in a calm manner, you should consider calling a friend or relative who will be able to assist in calming you down and managing the situation.
First and foremost, you need to ensure that you do NOT leave the scene of the accident! Doing this is a criminal offence. Naturally, if you are grievously injured, you will be taken off the scene by the paramedics.
One of the most important things you can do is to take down all the information of the parties involved in the accident. You need to take down contact numbers, names, and the license plate numbers. You must also obtain the insurance details of any other parties involved. If you have a camera, or a phone capable of taking photos, you need to try and take as many pictures of the accident scene and damages to the motor vehicles as possible. You will have tow truck operators offering to tow your vehicle. It is important that you only allow someone from your general auto insurance company to take your vehicle. Most car insurance companies will want to talk to you as the driver before giving permission for anyone to move your vehicle.
If you are asked to make a report on any aspect of the collision, it is imperative that you do not admit fault for anything. Sometimes you will feel pressured to admit that the accident could have been your fault. It is important that you do not discuss the details of the collision with anyone besides the police officers on the scene. Even then, do not admit liability.