Accidents are a part of life. As unfortunate and as gravely dangerous they are, accidents are inevitable. As a matter of fact, accidents happen every second of every day all over the world. The most common of these are car accidents. According to data, road accidents are the most common kind of transportation accident, with sea and air accidents coming second and third respectively.
Consequently, an average of six million car accidents happen each year in the United States alone. 6% of these accidents can be so grave as to result in one or more deaths. In fact, according to the 2017 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 37,133 people killed in motor vehicle traffic collisions on United States roads alone.
Now that we have established the innate frequency, gravity, and inevitability of car accidents, we will now discuss the things you need to keep in mind whenever you get involved in a car accident and injuries are sustained. Continue reading below to find out more and do not forget to take down notes.
Prioritize Health And Safety
The first thing you need to do if you happen to be involved in a car accident, or in any other accident for that matter, is to call for medical attention. As the saying goes, “Health is wealth”. Prioritize your safety and the safety of any other passengers you may have on board the car with you. If you are still conscious or able to move, immediately call your local emergency numbers or your friends and relatives who can help you get to the nearest hospital or medical facility.
The same is true even if you do not feel like you have been injured or no injury immediately shows up right after the accident. Some car accident injuries manifest themselves after quite some time. Also, there are very dangerous injuries caused by car accidents that may not be visible to the naked eye, like internal bleeding, blood hemorrhage, and brain damage. Make sure that you have yourself and all the passengers involved professionally checked and treated.
Consult A Lawyer For A Potential Legal Case
After making sure that everyone involved in the car accident gets checked and treated properly, the next thing you should do is to consult a lawyer for a potential legal case you might have against the erring driver of the other vehicle.
It is important for you to first consult legal counsel before agreeing to any offer being made by insurance companies. The reason behind this is because most insurance companies do not actually have your best interests in mind. They seek the lowest compensation which may oftentimes result in an undervaluing of your claims.
In choosing a lawyer or a law firm for your case, make sure to look into their specialization. Car accident lawyers like these Jersey Car Accident Lawyers are ideal for these kinds of cases since they are more familiar with the ins and outs of car and transportation laws.
Furthermore, choose a lawyer who practices in your locality. Since the United States is a country governed by a federal type of government, some laws may differ from one state to another. A local lawyer would be more familiar with the laws in your area than lawyers from other states.
