Trying to avoid a crash is an admirable goal, but it simply is impossible for someone to eliminate their collision risk through improved driving habits. They have no control over who they encounter on the roads, and other drivers are a major source of risk.
As important as it is for people to prioritize their safety in traffic, they also need to have a plan in place to protect themselves if a crash ever does occur. People who take the right steps immediately after a collision can potentially limit the personal and financial consequences that a crash inspires.
How can people protect themselves after a crash occurs?
Preserve evidence as soon as possible
Drivers who cause crashes often try to deny their culpability after the fact. Taking photographs or recording video of the scene of a crash before moving the vehicles can help someone prove their claims about fault later. Getting information about witnesses and identifying potential sources of video footage can also be smart steps to take.
Follow mandatory reporting laws
People who engage in dangerous driving behavior or illegal financial habits, like not carrying insurance, often try to talk their way out of a crash report. They may offer to pay directly for medical bills and vehicle repair costs.
Unfortunately, if there isn’t a collision report, it can be very challenging to hold someone to that promise later. Regardless of why someone asks to bypass the police reporting process, it is legally necessary to report a collision with substantial property damage or injuries involved. The effort to report the crash also makes it easier to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit later.
See a medical professional
Unless the crash was a fender bender involving parking lot speeds, people in a vehicle could very well have injuries that they don’t notice at first. Internal bleeding, brain injuries and even simple fractures are easy to overlook after a crash. The way the body responds to stress and the delayed onset of certain symptoms can lead to people realizing they have a serious injury days after a collision in some cases.
Not only do those people have a harder time pursuing compensation for their injuries, but they may also have a harder time recovering from their injuries. The sooner someone sees a doctor to diagnose their concerns, the better their chances of making a full recovery.
Those who have significant injuries, lost wages and possibly a totaled vehicle may need assistance handling the aftermath of a motor vehicle collision. Responding appropriately to a car crash can help to protect someone from financial losses when they are not at fault for their own harm.