5 Things To Do If You Are Involved In A Car Accident
While it is obvious how important it is to be safe on the road, sometimes life gets in the way. During the hustle and bustle of our everyday routine, sometimes we put our car on autopilot and are not as careful as we should be.
Practice Road Safety
You are late for an appointment, traffic is heavy on Nashville’s roadways and you are stressed out. The end result of rushing is we tend to be less careful than we should. It is easy and unfortunately common to change lanes too quickly without properly checking our rear view or side mirrors.
We fail to alert other drivers with a lane change signal. Sometimes we don’t come to a full stop at a four way intersection or yield the right of way.
And, of course, there is tailgating. We all hate being tailgated but so many of us are guilty as charged. Add it all up and the wonder is not that there are so many accidents but that there aren’t more.
According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security there were more than 158,000 car accidents last year in the state of Tennessee. This suggests that one in eight drivers will be in a car accident this year and may sustain a personal injury. As the odds are against us, it is essential we know what to do and how to properly handle the situation.
5 Things To Do If In a Car Accident
As such, I wanted to create a list of to do’s if you are involved in an car accident. While this is by no means all inclusive, they are important things to think about at a time when your mind might be blank.
Always Be Prepared
No matter what, it is always important to be prepared when traveling regardless of the distance you have to go. Keep a road safety kit in your car at all times. This may come in handy for you or someone that you come upon who has been involved in an accident. Further, always keep a phone charger in your vehicle so that your phone is always available to call for assistance in Emergency situations.
In the winter, keep a blanket and water in the car. The last thing you want is to have to sit on the side of the road in freezing cold weather next to a broken down car.
Steer Your Vehicle Off the Roadway
In the unfortunate case that you are involved in accident, it is important that you steer/maneuver your vehicle off the highway and out of the path of the regular flow of traffic to the best of your ability. Doing this will further protect you from any other possible collision as well as protect other drivers while keeping up the normal course of traffic.
It is startling how many people get struck a second time by ongoing traffic. This is evident by looking at the Tennessee Move Over Laws. This rule should apply to everyone, not just police officers.
Wait For Help in a Safe Area
After being involved in an accident be sure that you wait for assistance in a safe area. The natural response is to wait by your car. Do not stay next to your vehicle if it is dangerously close to the regular flow of traffic. As noted above, secondary collisions are all too common. Don’t think sitting in your car keeps you safe. This false sense of security could be deadly.
Signal For Assistance
Aside from using your cell phone to call for help. Use your flashers on your vehicle to alert other drivers approaching you. This lets them know that they are to approach you with caution and will help them see you from farther away, especially during the night or bad weather.
Call the Police
No matter what the case is or how serious the damage, you need to contact Nashville Metro Police . If you have just been in a collision, you are not thinking all that clearly. It is not possible to know if you have been injured while still at the scene. There may be property damage you are not aware of. While you can always exchange information with each party involved, that is not the best practice.
You need the name, address, phone number, and driver license number as well as insurance information such as company, phone number, and policy number. Even if the other party is willing to provide it, you have no guarantee they will cooperate at a later date.
All of these tips will, for the most part, provide some assistance to you in the unfortunate case of an accident. Each one is mentioned to protect you and your interests.
In An Auto Accident? Be Prepared
One last thing, if the unfortunate does occur, you need to be prepared. Of course, the best course of action is to get legal assistance right from the scene. You can easily access our phone number on your cell phone at www.nashvilletnlaw.com or call (615) 256-6666.
Morning, noon or night you will find someone available to speak with you. We can answer all of your questions and alleviate your fears, while guiding you through a difficult process. Remember, the earlier I get your case, the easier it is to avoid roadblocks.
“Fighting for your rights” Contact David Weissman and the law firm of Raybin & Weissman for a confidential consultation of your case today at 615-256-6666.