Whether you like it or not, the chances of getting involved in an accident on the road is high. Even if you consider yourself a safe driver, reckless motorists may appear unexpectedly, causing serious harm to you and your passengers.
Sure enough, the National Safety Council reported that about 4.4 million people suffered serious injuries as a result of road accidents in 2019. While states are working hard to make roads safer, it’s still important for drivers to know what to do after a road accident.
The road to a full recovery is a challenging one. So, whether you are driving a car or riding a motorcycle, here’s a guide to help you or anyone you know reduce fatal injuries and prevent them from getting worse following a road accident.
Assess your injuries
Regardless of the severity of the collision, it’s always important to check yourself for any injuries before you tend to the other people involved. Check for bleeding and head injuries. Also, if you feel any tenderness and a sharp pain in your arms and legs, it’s best to assume that they are fractured and you will need to call for help from people who are on the scene, or have them contact emergency services. Do not attempt to move or treat dislocated joints yourself.
Watch out for emerging conditions
Once first responders arrive and take you to the nearest hospital, you may gradually experience pain in other areas. These emerging conditions should not go undetected, so it’s important to talk with emergency doctors if there are other situations they should know about. You could have suffered from the effects of whiplash or a herniated disc. It’s important that some of these effects may manifest after you have been discharged, so try to monitor your condition.
Undergo a debriefing
If you are involved in a serious car accident that led to potentially disabling injuries and the loss of another person’s life, you may develop post-traumatic stress that could have long-term effects. That said, make sure to undergo psychological debriefing with a licensed professional so you can get access to interventions and treatment options that can help address post-collision anxieties. Beyond that, you may want to talk with family members and close friends about how the accident affected you. Such interactions can support your mental health and help you recover from your ordeal.
Reach out to your insurance provider and the right legal experts
Along with recovering physically and emotionally, you also need to consider holding the other party accountable for the accident which has cost you thousands of dollars in medical bills and left you with permanent medical conditions. It’s always best to work with your insurer on getting your well-deserved claim. If worse comes to worst, you can launch a lawsuit against the negligent party. Make sure to hire lawyers who are experienced in certain types of accidents. For instance, you can reach out to Herrman & Herrman motorcycle accident attorneys if you lost your motorbike and a rib to a reckless truck driver.
There is life after a road accident. You just have to follow the right steps that will lead you towards a full recovery.
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