Statistics show that the average driver will be involved in at least one car accident every 20 years. This usually comes out to three crashes in a driver’s lifetime. A car accident lawyer knows that the risks of being in a car accident spike dramatically when a driver consistently engages in bad driving behaviors, such as distracted driving, drowsy driving, and drinking when driving.
Even if you are a cautious driver, there are a lot of other drivers out there who fail to drive safely. If you are in an accident, the following tips will help you in a car accident claim should you find yourself the victim of a bad driver.
Scene of the Crash
Being involved in a crash can be very stressful, but it is critical to keep your thoughts clear and stay aware of everything that is going on around you. If you think you have been injured, stay in your vehicle until police and/or emergency responders arrive on the scene, as long as it is safe to do so. Should there be any smoke or fire coming from the vehicle, you want to carefully get out of the vehicle and get as far away from it as you can.
Many accident scenes can be confusing, especially if they occur in a busy traffic area. If you are able, put your hazard lights on so other drivers will be aware that your vehicles are stopped for a reason. If you have flares, use those too.
Even if the other driver is responsible for the crash, it is important to check on their condition, as well as any passengers in the vehicles involved. Again, however, if you are injured, stay where you are until help arrives.
At some point during your time at the scene, you may become angry at the other driver when if it hits you what actually happened – especially if your children were in the vehicle with you and they have been injured or you realize what could have happened if the crash had been more severe. No matter what you are feeling, however, it is important to remain calm and not take out your anger on the other driver, no matter how reckless or dangerous their behavior was.
Make sure to provide the police with all the information and details you can remember about what lead up to the crash. The information that the officer puts in their police report will be helpful to a car accident lawyer in any personal injury claims.
Contact a Car Accident Law Firm Today
If you have been injured by an at-fault driver, you deserve to be compensated for all the losses your injuries have caused, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. To ensure that compensation, you need a skilled attorney, like a car accident lawyer from a law firm like Tuttle Law, P.A.