Road safety is dependent not only on your driving capabilities but also on the actions and behaviours of other drivers and pedestrians. In fact, there’s a possibility of getting into an accident, and this cannot be avoided regardless of how careful and attentive you are. This is disheartening since being involved in a road traffic accident is often stressful and overwhelming, but you can make the experience less daunting by learning what to do in such a scenario beforehand. Here are some steps that you must take if you’d get involved in a vehicular accident:


Get medical assistance ASAP if needed

First and foremost, do a quick assessment of yourself and your passengers and check for heavy bleeding, broken bones, dizziness, loss of consciousness, and other signs and symptoms. If there are incurred serious injuries, call Triple Zero right away and ask for medical assistance.

Contact the local police
Even if the accident seems minor and inconsequential, you must call the local police and inform them about what happened. This will allow them to officially record and log the incident in their database and  provide you with a copy of the police report, which is an important document required in filing for  vehicle insurance claims down the road.

Take pictures of all vehicles involved

Most insurance companies will ask you to provide photos when submitting a claim, so gather as much evidence as you can and ensure that each picture is clear and detailed. Take photos from all sides of every involved vehicle and make sure that each damaged area is properly photographed. Make your evidence more ironclad by taking videos as well so you can capture details that are difficult to obtain through photos.

Share information with the other parties
After taking photo and video evidence, ask the other parties for their names and contact details as well as their vehicle’s make, model, licence plate, and registration number. Don’t forget to inquire about their insurance company and insurance policy number too. Provide your own necessary information to the other parties as well.

Pro tip: When sharing personal and insurance information, be careful about what you convey and make sure that it would not be interpreted as admitting fault. Acknowledging that you are at fault have a negative impact on your insurance claim and lead to a lower settlement amount.

Reach out to a trusted lawyer

Depending on the circumstances leading up to the accident, you might find yourself facing criminal charges. This can be the case if you are accused of driving under the influence or negligent driving that has caused death or grievous bodily harm. If this happens, your best move is to call top-rated criminal lawyers in NSW. They’ll collect physical and digital evidence, gather witness statements and take other steps to strengthen your case and ensure the best possible outcome.

Getting involved in a road traffic accident is never easy. Fortunately, by taking the steps above immediately after the accident, you can make the experience less stressful and find it easier to move forward.