Vehicle accidents can be very traumatic regardless of the severity of the accident. In fact, around 39% of vehicle accident survivors admit to experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder after the accident.
But, being stressed can after an accident can delay your body from healing. All the confusion could also hinder you from getting the accident compensation you deserve. Instead of causing more harm after an accident, you need to work on remaining calm and dealing with the situation with a clear head.
Not sure how to remain calm after an accident? Keep reading to discover a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the moments after an accident.
Take a Breath and Access the Situation
Car accident stress happens immediately after impact. Thoughts start racing through your mind, such as if anyone was hurt, if the accident was your fault, and how much damage your car received.
Instead of allowing the anxiety and stress to take over, you need to take a deep breath. Give yourself a full minute to sit in your car and calm down. Close your eyes and try to clear your mind.
Once your breathing and heart rate have slowed, then you can assess the situation around you. Turn on your hazard lights and work on these next steps.
Check to See If Anyone Is Injured
Wondering what to do after a car accident? After calming down, you then need to see if anyone sustained injuries.
Start by checking to see if you feel any pain or have any visible injuries. If you are not severely hurt, then check on any other passengers in your vehicle. If someone in your vehicle is hurt, remain by their side and attempt to calm them down.
If no one in your vehicle is hurt, then you can exit your vehicle and see if any of the other drivers or passengers involved were injured.
If you yourself are injured, focus on receiving help. Let the paramedics attend to your injuries and agree to be transported to the hospital if necessary. Ask a passenger or a loved one to handle the rest of the accident details while you focus on healing.
Call the Police
One of the most important car accident steps is to call the police.
Even if the accident was minor, you need to report it to the police so that they can file a report. Without a police report, you may not be able to receive compensation for the accident from your insurance company.
Police officers will also help to control traffic around the accident until the area is cleaned up. They will also contact an ambulance if anyone has injuries so that the injured person can receive medical attention.
Don’t attempt to move your vehicle until the police arrive on the scene and advise you to do so. To figure out who is at fault, they’ll need to know where the vehicles were when the accident occurred for their report. In addition, driving your vehicle could cause more damage to it.
Take Photographs of the Scene
Next on the list of what to do after a car crash, is to take photographs of the scene.
Since there are so many thoughts and emotions running through your mind, it can be extremely hard to remember minor details later. To ensure that all the details are preserved, take photographs or videos of the accident scene with your phone.
Make sure to take photographs of every side of all the vehicles involved, especially your own. Then, take some overall photographs of the whole scene. Finally, take detail shots of any road signs, lights, or road conditions that may have contributed to the accident,
Get Contact Information
Before you leave the scene of the accident, you’ll want to gather contact information from everyone present. You may need their testimony later for insurance purposes or just have a minor question for them.
Start by getting the contact and insurance information from the other driver. If they refuse to speak with you, the responding officer will have that information and can provide it to you. While you’re at it, get the contact information for the officer as well.
If any other drivers or pedestrians witnessed the accident, ask them if you could have their contact information in case you need it in the future. If they don’t want to give out their personal information, ask them if they’d be willing to tell you what they witnessed. Get out the recording app on your phone and record what they say so that you have it later.
Ask Someone Else to Drive You
Stress from an accident doesn’t just stop once the scene has been cleared. Getting back behind the wheel again can be a very stressful and traumatic experience.
If your vehicle is drivable after the accident, call a friend or family member to come to pick you up. They can drive you home so that you don’t have to deal with the situation immediately. If your vehicle is towed, they can meet you at the accident scene or tow lot to pick you up.
When you feel ready to drive again, ensure that someone else is in the vehicle to help you feel comfortable. Start with a short drive and work your way to longer drives as you go.
Now You Know How to Remain Calm After an Accident
After reading this article, you know how to remain calm after a car accident. By learning this information now, you’ll know what to do in the future if you find yourself involved in a car accident.
Remember to start by taking a deep breath, assessing the situation, and figuring out if there are any injuries. Then, immediately call the police and take photographs of the scene to document what happened. Don’t forget to get contact information from everyone at the accident so you can talk to them later when you’re calm and ask someone else to drive you from the scene.
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