Unfortunately, car accidents are an inevitable part of life. In Georgia, car accidents are the leading cause of injury deaths and the second-leading cause of hospitalizations and emergency room visits. Even if you are a cautious driver, you may be involved in an accident with another driver. Being in a car accident can be a traumatic experience, and if you have never been in a car accident before, you may not know what steps you are supposed to take afterwards. The following tips will provide you with the necessary steps to take if you are ever involved in an accident.
- Move your vehicle
If your accident is minor and there is no major structural damage to the vehicle, move the vehicle out of traffic, preferably to a well-lit area. This will help minimize the risk of other vehicles colliding with your car while it is sitting in traffic and will ensure that you and your vehicle are safe from oncoming vehicles.
- Use your emergency flashers
If you are able to move your car out of traffic, use your emergency flashers to alert oncoming cars that your car is there. This is especially necessary at night, when visibility is low. Using your flashers will help alert other drivers of your vehicle’s presence so they do not accidentally run into your vehicle.
- If you cannot move your vehicle, get out!
Sometimes, car accidents result in a collision that completely totals the vehicle(s) involved. When that happens, it is unlikely that you will be able to move your vehicle out of the path of traffic. If this happens to you, ensure that all passengers exit the vehicle and get out of traffic as safely and as quickly as possible. Make sure that all passengers remain a safe distance from the collision, as sometimes vehicles tend to combust after a major collision.
- Check for injuries
Once you and any passengers are safely out of traffic, you should check yourself and others for any injuries resulting from the accident. If anyone is harmed, even slightly, call an ambulance. Try to provide as much information as you can about your location and the injuries suspected, especially if they appear to be life-threatening.
- Stay Calm
It may seem impossible but try to remain calm after the accident. You want to be able to remember as many details as possible so that you can relay the information to the authorities. Make sure that you call the authorities to report the accident as soon as you are safe to do so. If you do not have access to a phone, you can try to flag someone down to report the accident for you or travel to a nearby location that is likely to have a phone. Just make sure that you do not go too far from the scene of the accident. Take a deep breath and if possible, write down any details you can remember from the accident. Maintain a safe distance from traffic and wait for the authorities and/or ambulance to arrive.