Although it’s not something any of us would particularly like to think about, car crashes, unfortunately, happen on a regular basis here in the UK. Although the number of crashes has been steadily decreasing over the years thanks to a range of more stringent rules and newer vehicles with better safety features, there were still over 170,000 casualties of varying severities back in 2017.
With this in mind, it’s a good idea to have at least some knowledge of the steps to take in order to prepare you for the potential event of a car crash. Read on to discover what you’ll need to remember.
Stop your vehicle
If you’ve been in an accident, no matter how minor, it is an offence under the Road Traffic Act to leave the scene of the collision. Switch off your car's engine and turn on your hazard lights to let other drivers know the situation.
Assess the situation
Now that you’re at a stop, it’s essential to take stock of the situation. Begin by taking a look around; if the accident is an emergency, you need to call 999 immediately. However, if there’s no emergency present it may better to call the police on a 101 number. The police should definitely be called if you suspect foul play.
Criminals have been known to cause accidents in order to carry out a fraudulent insurance scam. A way to stop yourself being a victim of such a grift is to install a dashcam to catch people in the act.
Swap information
Once you’ve assessed the situation and have determined that no one is in any immediate danger, you’ll need to swap information with the person you’ve collided with. This should include swapping names, addresses and contact details to make it easier for insurance companies to begin making claims.
Taking it further
If you believe that you’ve been in an accident that wasn’t your fault and you’ve been injured because of it, it might be a good idea to take your case further with the help of a personal injury lawyer. Having a legal expert can help you to ensure that, if your life has been affected by this incident, you can get the compensation you deserve.
At Trent Law, we understand how distressing a car accident can be, especially if it wasn’t your fault. Get in touch with our team today and we’ll help you receive the compensation you deserve or visit our website for more information.