Road accident Basics

It's a harrowing experience, and something very unfamiliar to most of us.

What happens when you have the misfortune of being involved in a road accident?

The steps you or others take in the immediate aftermath of a crash will depend on the severity of the incident.

Assess 
Firstly, check on any passengers in your vehicle. Is everyone ok? Is it safe to exit the vehicle if you are able to? If possible, check on others involved to see if they are ok. If it is deemed necessary, call emergency services, although bystanders or other witnesses may have already done this for you.

Report
Minor accidents may not need to be reported to the Police, however if anyone was injured and they need to claim for treatment expenses, the insurer will require that the claim is reported to the police. Some property insurers also require the incident to be reported to the police. If the police don't attend, (and they may not) ensure you go to your local police station as soon as you are able to and report the incident. For injury purposes, if the incident is reported via the telephone on Policelink, it is extremely difficult to obtain a copy of that report and it is better to report the accident in person.

When reporting the incident, if you are in pain, ensure that you tell the police officer. The police can only record what was reported. Where a police report is recorded as "no injury", this again makes it difficult to obtain the report and can lead to other difficulties down the track.

Exchange details
Ensure that you exchange details with other drivers involved in the incident. Take photographs of the accident scene, all vehicles involved and registration numbers. Approach any witnesses or bystanders and obtain their details also.

Remove hazards
If it is practicable to do so, move vehicles and other hazards off the road. Be aware of other traffic. If the accident occurred in the dark, ensure all available vehicles put their hazard lights on to warn oncoming traffic of the possible hazards.

Seek Medical Attention
You may feel 'ok' in the immediate aftermath of an accident, however once the adrenalin has worn off, you may find that you have some aches and pains that you didn't have before. If you suspect you may have suffered injuries in the accident, no matter how minor, it is important that you seek medical advice at the earliest opportunity.

If you are still unsure about what happens after an accident, or require advice, call our team at Far North Injury Lawyers who will talk you through your options.

Categories

All