What to Do After a Road Traffic Collision

If you are involved in a road accident, you are going to be shaken up. You are probably not going to have your best head about you. So it is important that you learn how to behave after a road traffic accident so that you do not make any mistakes. Saying the wrong thing can cause you trouble and, in some cases, prevent you from receiving the compensation you should otherwise have been entitled to.

To help you out, here are a few pointers on what to do if you are ever involved in a road traffic collision:

Injuries

The first thing to do is check yourself over for injuries. If you are seriously injured, avoid moving if at all possible, get someone to call 911, and wait for an ambulance. If you are not seriously injured but can see blood, it is a good idea to call for an ambulance anyway.

If it was a minor accident, never tell the other person or anyone listening that you are not injured. Some injuries can take a while to manifest, like internal bleeding or pain that arises up to a couple of weeks later. If you say you are uninjured and you are actually injured, you may not be entitled to compensation.  

The Blame Game

It is important that you do not take the blame. Don’t blame yourself, and don’t let the other driver make you think that you are to blame. Even if you think that it was your fault, it may not be, so don’t say anything. You are not in full possession of the facts, so always remember that. Admitting any liability or apologizing is not wise and may affect your compensation claim. It is the job of the insurance companies to figure it all out, not you or the other drivers. 

Your Personal Account

Avoid giving this at the scene. If someone tries to get your official statement out of you, don’t do it. Wait until later once the shock has worn off. In a situation like this, you are going to be confused and shaken, so let the dust settle, talk to a lawyer, and only give you a personal account of what happened once you have your head together.   

Reject Earfly Offers of Compensation

In some cases, after an accident, you may receive an offer very early, like within a couple of weeks or so of the accident. You should reject it as it is probably too low. If you need to, discuss the offer with your lawyer and get professional advice. An early offer may well mean that you are entitled to a lot more, and they are trying to bait you.

So don’t fall for it. It takes a long time for all the interested parties to figure out what happened. You may want to look at the time it takes to settle a truck accident to get a rough idea of how long you may be waiting. But good things come to those who wait. So, be wise, reject early offers, and play the waiting game.