It’s a typical day, and you’re out and about. You ran your errands, and now you’re back on the highway headed home. The sun is shining, traffic is pretty clear and the day is looking great. Your exit is coming up in a few miles, so you look to your left, switch lanes and are almost there. You look up once more and you see something that makes your heart skip a beat…
An oncoming truck at 70 mph in your lane, behind you, with no sign of breaking…
You freeze for a second, and your mind has gone blank. You finally understand the situation and try to come up with a split second plan. So, you immediately try to speed up and maneuver out of the way, but the driver’s momentum is too strong. Before you know it, the glass breaks, your body goes forward and the airbag comes toward. You sit there in shock for a few seconds trying to comprehend what just happened, but everything seems like a blur. The only good news in this situation is that you both have your seatbelts on or this would more than likely have been a much more devastating impact.
Now traffic is no longer moving, as everyone is waiting for the police to clear the scene.
If there’s one thing in life that completely shakes up everything, it’s the unexpected. It’s an interruption in life that nobody sees coming, and a ‘’pardon me’’ that blindsides everyone. There are many cases of the unexpected and it comes in many forms. One common form of the unexpected comes in car accidents. These are terrifying because they can happen at any moment. No matter if you’re the greatest driver that ever lived, if someone is distracted or loses control, no training can prevent that collision.
You finally come to grips with the situation and you sit wondering what to do next. Before you go into this blind, here’s what to do:
Calm Down And Gather Your Thoughts
No situation gets better with screaming at each other. The other driver knows what they did by being distracted and you know you were the innocent one. Or it could be the other way around. Either way, try your best to have a calm conversation and find common ground. It will be difficult to get anything done when hysterics and shouting are now the channels of discussion.
Move To A Safe Place (If Possible)
It is best to get out of the way of oncoming traffic. Even if your vehicle stays in the middle of the highway, you need to get out of the way. That is dangerous and you are putting your life on the line every moment you stay in the vehicle.
Check On Others Involved
As difficult as this may be, this is more important than your anger. Go check on the other driver to ensure he/she is doing fine health-wise. Put your pride aside and assist them. Handle insurance and other business later. First comes health, and everything else next. Even the slightest dizziness should be addressed. If you have children or other people in the car with you, tend to them first and if they are fine, then go check on the other driver.
Always Have Proper ID and Insurance Ready
To eliminate any confusion, here is what Esurance has to say about items needed ready.
These are the items that you need to have ready and recorded for future purposes.
- Driver and passenger names
- License plate number
- Insurance contact info
- Makes of all vehicles involved
- Contact info for any eyewitnesses
- Area of the accident
- The name and badge number of any police officers
Call Proper Law Enforcement To The Scene | Call The Police
The longer you wait the more the situation can get worse. More traffic jams, more possible health concerns, and other potential threats. Quickly call the police and get things situated. When the police arrive, be honest about the situation and be respectful. They are there to help you and to understand both sides to get a clear perspective. No need to yell or be disrespectful just because your car is damaged. Be polite and get through the situation quickly.
Document The Scene Of The Car Wreck
I cannot stress to you how vital this step is. It is important to take pictures of the scene and damages. Regardless if it was your fault or theirs, without documentation it is your word against theirs. Documenting the scene is the proof you need during the claim process.
What You Can Do Before The Car Wreck
You need to always be prepared in case of times like these. You should have your phone ready with a full charge whenever you hit the road. Contact is important in times like this. Keep your important documents ready (ID, insurance, registration, etc.). Pack a first aid safety kit. Always have one ready in the glove box. Sometimes people panic in moments like this and may need extra oxygen (Inhaler), or maybe they are bleeding. Then you would need peroxide, bandages, alcohol, or vaseline. Different items like those will come in handy. Hopefully, you won’t need to use them, but if you must, you’ll be ready.
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