Car accidents are happening daily. There are 6 million accidents in the USA annually, and over 90 people die every day. Chances are, even if you regularly drive to experience a traffic accident. Statistics show that the average driver claims and accident every 18 years, and also if most of the accidents aren’t deadly, the stress associated with them can get to you.
Car accidents happen daily, so it’s best to be prepared for one. They trigger specific emotions that stick with you on the day of the accident and even in the days following it. You’ll feel guilty, afraid, nervous, worried, angry, shocked, and you’ll find it hard to accept that this has really happened, and you’re not dreaming.
The bad part is that you’ll keep going the episode in your mind and try to figure out if you could have prevented it. For a few days, you’ll feel you cannot stop thinking about it, and the emotions will overwhelm you.
So, what should you do if you find yourself in an accident?
Stay calm
Yes, it’s a scary thing to experience a vehicle accident, but try to stay calm because panic can deter your judgment. Before getting out of the car and talking with the other road participants take a few deep breaths because regaining control will help you manage the situation better. During events like this, your adrenaline levels are pumping and stop you from thing clear. But you need to react to some immediate demands; you need to check if there are any victims, call the police, and ask for medical help if you or someone else is injured.
The other road participants will probably be agitated, and if you also are, you’ll find it challenging to obtain the needed information. Even if it’s not your fault and you’re angry because now you’re late for work, try to be nice to the other party because they’re also having a bad day.
Take the car out of the road
Most of the states ask the drivers to take the vehicles out of the road, if possible. Move your vehicle out of the way of traffic and help the other drivers do the same if their vehicles fail to work. You can take some pictures before moving them, but it’s not necessary to keep them in the position until the police come. The police and insurance personnel can evaluate the accident even with the cars cleared. You’ll not ruin the case if you move the vehicles. In fact, clearing the road allows emergency personnel to reach possible victims faster.
When the police come, they’ll check if anyone needs medical assistance and then they’ll handle traffic obstruction, if you cannot move the cars before they arrive. Once all victims receive treatment and the street is free from obstacles, they’ll evaluate the accident. They’ll be more than happy to discuss with a calm driver who made sure to ease their work.
Call the police
Having the police there to evaluate the accident and communicate with the parties is smart, no matter the size of the accident. To speed up the resolution, answer their questions, and rely on your statement on facts, not on guesses. Your report helps them figure out what the cause of the accident is.
If the police choose not to respond to the disaster, they’ll recommend you to exchange insurance information with the other driver and get in touch with the insurance provider. Before leaving the scene, ask the driver’s name, address, contact details, insurance provider, and policy number. Take photos of the cars and make sure to write down the license plate number, model, make, and year of the other vehicles. Also, write down the exact time and location of the accident because the insurance provider will ask for them.
Look yourself over for injuries
There are frequent cases when the drivers are so nervous and anxious; they refuse to get medical help. But severe concussions can threaten your life. So, it’s essential to go to the hospital and take the needed precautions to prevent further complications.
If the doctors suspect you have a concussion, they’ll order a scan and recommend long-term treatment. When left untreated, accident-related conditions can trigger long-term effects. So try to calm down, figure out if you have any pain, and go for a medical check-up. Do the smart thing and seek treatment options early.
Be prepared to experience intense feelings
Most of the people forget about the overwhelming feelings of the accident a few days after the accident. But for some, these emotions become stronger and stronger and they can influence their behavior. When you experience intense feelings that stay with you for many days after the event, they signal post-traumatic stress, and you should search for solutions to lower the symptoms. Most of the people who have strong emotions after an accident use organically grown hemp to relieve stress and anxiety and calm down.
How can you tell if you have post-traumatic stress?
You’ll probably have an ongoing feeling of uneasiness, anxiety about getting behind the wheel again; you’ll refuse medical check-ups and procedures, have nightmares and feel irritable and angry or ongoing memories of the event.
Hire a lawyer
Sometimes the insurance providers are unfair when it comes to injury claims. When you experience physical injuries or emotional pain, hiring a car accident lawyer can provide legal advice to file for a claim. Most of the time, the insurance provider pays you the cost to fix your car, but they don’t cover for injuries and emotional strain. You may have to replace the vehicle and they won’t pay for a new one.
Consult a lawyer to find out if you are eligible for a settlement. The experts may recommend you to stay away from social media while the claim is pending. The last thing you want is to complicate your claim because someone misinterprets your posting, and the judge thinks you’re not taking the case seriously.
Here is how you can stay calm after having a vehicle accident. Do you have any other tricks we should know about?
