It is important to know what to do if you are in a car accident. You should always call 911 immediately, and get out of the vehicle if the airbags have deployed. If someone else needs help, check their pulse-if they have one, try to keep them awake until paramedics arrive.
Remember that you always need to listen to paramedics, police officers, or firemen that are trying to help you. In this article, we’ll review 7 things you should do after suffering an injury in a car crash.
1. Check Yourself for Injuries
Even if you think you didn’t suffer any injuries in a car crash, check yourself thoroughly afterward just in case. Look for bruises, cuts, and swelling throughout your body – it doesn’t necessarily mean there is a serious injury if a part of your body is swollen or bruised after an accident, but it can be a sign that more tests should be done.
Also, some pretty serious injuries can go unnoticed at first-especially if the crash itself was very serious. And of course, make sure to seek medical attention as soon as you can.
When you are sure all your injuries have been attended to, think about the reason why this happened in the first place. If it wasn’t your fault that you got injured you should contact a law firm as soon as you can.
And not just any law firm, you will need a catastrophic injury law firm that specializes in lawsuits about injuries that you have sustained. Most states have these firms, and they will be your best bet in getting compensated for the injuries that you sustained.
2. Call 911
Be sure to call 911 as soon as possible after a car accident. Tell the dispatcher that medical help is needed, and briefly summarize what happened before you or anyone else requires medical attention. It’s important not to hang up until the dispatcher tells you it’s ok to do so, as they may need information from you about your location or other details surrounding the car crash.
Try to move slowly after you are injured. You should not just get up and start moving around if you have been in a car accident, no matter how minor it may seem. This can cause more harm than good, so just take your time and wait for paramedics to arrive.
3. Check Other Motorists and Passengers for Injuries
If anyone else was injured in the car accident, check on them as soon as you can to make sure they are safe, or give them some necessary first aid if you know how to do it. For example, if someone has a serious chest wound, you can use a SAM chest seal to help them. If they try to move as you approach, don’t stop them. However, make sure they stay put until medical help arrives if possible.
Do not move or remove anyone’s clothing who is severely bleeding or appears unconscious because this could cause further injury. Instead, cover the person with coats and blankets while awaiting medical assistance.
Even if you and other people involved feel fine after a car accident, paramedics will normally give you all a thorough check-up regardless just as a precautionary measure. If they tell you that they need to take you to the hospital, do not try to refuse because this could lead them to take more extreme measures such as forcing transportation onto an ambulance or helicopter.
If you feel fine, but are told by the paramedics to go to the hospital anyway, make sure to take someone with you so they can give regular updates about what’s happening at home or work during your absence. The worse thing that could happen when in an accident is if no one knows where you are when it’s important for them to know what’s going on. Be sure to have information clearly written down in your wallet stating who should be contacted in case of emergency just in case this happens.
4. Try To Keep The Victim Conscious
Try your best to keep the victim conscious by having them talk, coughing every once in a while if condition allows it, and asking their name. This is important because it can help with giving a correct diagnosis in later stages of treatment.
If they are conscious, they may be able to tell you if they feel any numbness in certain parts of their body or if their vision is blurry which will give doctors valuable information on the possible injuries sustained during the car accident.
5. Check for Signs of Life
Check to see if there are any visible signs of life such as small movements and talking, coughing, and groaning. If there is someone who has stopped breathing or doesn’t have a pulse, begin CPR immediately until paramedics arrive. This can be a matter of life and death, so do not hesitate to help another motorist or passenger if you can.
6. Be Sure You Were Not In a Malfunctioned Vehicle
If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s important to find out if the car you were riding in was actually safe enough to drive. Manufacturers design cars to take a certain amount of force when they crash, so it is important to be sure that the car is in good shape.
If you suspect your vehicle had something wrong with it, contact a mechanic as soon as possible. Don’t take the car to an auto shop you don’t know, go somewhere reputable and professional so that you can find out for sure if there was anything wrong with the vehicle before the accident happened.
Being in a car accident is bad enough – you should not have to deal with being in a malfunctioned vehicle as well. Find out if your car was safe to drive after you get all your other injuries checked out.
7. Take Pictures and Videos
Do your best to take pictures and/or videos of the accident scene before it is cleaned up. This will be helpful evidence in case you decide to file a lawsuit against the other driver or vehicle owners for any damages.
If you do not have a camera with you, make sure to note the exact location of the crash site on your phone or on paper if possible. Hit-and-run drivers are less likely to get away with their crime if they are caught on tape because it can help prove that person was responsible for what happened in court since there isn’t a witness to the crime.
In the event of a car accident, it is important to remember that you should always call 911 immediately and get out of the vehicle. If someone else needs help in your crash, they need medical attention – even if they seem fine or say they’re alright. Make sure not to refuse hospitalization when asked by paramedics because this could mean you suffering hidden injuries.
Check for signs of life after any collision with another person’s vehicle by checking their pulse and breathing patterns, make sure you give CPR to whoever needs it Take pictures and videos at all times following an automobile incident so you can show the actual scene of the accident to police officers and for evidence if you decide to file a lawsuit against another motorist or his/her insurance company.
