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What to do when in an Automobile Accident
By
Granny’s Mettle
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In 2002, there were an
estimated 6.3 million car accidents in the United States.
About 2.9 million injuries and 42,815 people were reported
killed in auto accidents.
Every year, the rates are increasing. More and more,
people are getting injured, if not killed, from automobile
accidents.
Unfortunately, most of us will experience this type of
accident at some time. That's why it is important for us
to know certain things that will provide significant
assistance when we are in a car accident.
Remain at the scene of the accident.
If you are in an auto accident involving injury, or
substantial damage to property, stay at the scene of the
accident until the police arrive and tell you that you can
leave. There are laws requiring people involved to stay
put and wait for the police to arrive and investigate.
Leaving the scene of the accident can get your license
revoked, or worse, your behavior can result to criminal
charges.
Protect the injured.
If you are trained in providing first aid, administer if
somebody is injured. However, it is important to remember
never to move an injured person. Moving him/her may result
to further damage. Ask for somebody to contact the police
and report the incident. The person to contact the police
should inform that people are injured, and if possible,
the number of persons injured so that there will be enough
emergency personnel to respond to the accident. If the
accident occurred on the roadway, turn on your flashers,
or use flares to warn approaching traffic of the accident.
Get information.
In any accident, it is important to get information that
you will use later on, especially during your insurance
claim. The following are the information you should know:
•The other driver's name, address, driver's license
number, insurance information, and license plate number.
•If there are witnesses, get their names, addresses, and
telephone numbers.
•Ask for a business card from the police officer who
investigated the traffic scene. Also get the
"incident number" so that you can obtain an
accident report. Most officers will provide you with the
information even if you don't ask.
•Take note of the location—the road conditions, speed
limits, traffic control devices, the weather, and the
lighting.
•Take note of how the accident occurred—the direction
of travel of the vehicles involved, and what the cars are
doing at the time of the accident. It is significant to
note that you will be asked to share your notes with the
person you are suing or the person who is suing you if the
accident may result to litigation.
Never admit liability.
Even if you believe you are at fault, do not admit
liability. There may be other factors which you don't know
that may turn the fault to the other driver. Do not make
statements, on print or tape, to anybody at the accident
scene, except for the police. Nevertheless, when speaking
to the police, tell them only the facts of what happened.
Let them make their own conclusion from the facts.
Seek medical care.
See a doctor. This is to eliminate the probability of the
inability to obtain "no fault" benefits for your
injuries. There are statutes in every state pertaining to
what the insurance can cover. If you do not see a doctor,
you might find later on that the insurance company or the
other driver involved in the accident argue that your
injuries were not related to the accident. In addition,
the "adrenaline rush" from the accident can mask
symptoms, which a physical examination can otherwise
reveal.
Tell the doctor your symptoms--- any loss of memory,
headache, blood or fluid in the ear, dizziness,
disorientation, ringing in the ears, nausea, confusion, or
any other unusual physical or mental feeling.
It is best to be safe. Report your symptoms so that a
medical expert can rule out the possibility of a much
greater damage.
Dealing with automobile accidents can be overwhelming,
especially of you are not aware of the ins and outs of the
legalities regarding this problem. So if you or a family
member is a victim or have suffered from an automobile
accident, it is better to have a reliable and competent
lawyer to assist you in your claims. The lawyer will
provide you the opportunity for a fair outcome, as well as
recover damages that you deserve.
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