What To Do If You Are In A Car Or Motorcycle Accident
08 Jan 2021
Photo by Clark Van Der Beken on Unsplash
Whether you’re driving a car or bike there are certain ways you should handle being involved in an accident. If you are unsure about what to do in this situation, take a look at our pointer below.
Stay Calm
After you are involved in an accident your adrenaline will kick in causing emotions to run high. Everyone reacts differently in this situation but it is important to stay calm. Getting angry will exacerbate the situation, whether it was your fault or not losing your temper is not the way to resolve the problem. Instead, take a deep breath and stay calm, if you are in control of your emotions and act calm towards others they are more likely to reciprocate your demeanor.
Stop and think before you react to the crash, ensure that the scene is safe for other road users. First, turn on your hazards and switch your engine off.
Is Anyone Injured?
Before you jump out of the car or off your bike, check to see if you are injured. If you deem yourself to be okay, then remove yourself from your vehicle and check if the third party has been injured in the collision. It’s important that you assess the situation before doing this as you do not want to put yourself in harm’s way. If you think that someone has been injured, talk to them in a calm manner, and see if they respond normally back to you. Stay and talk with them until the emergency services arrive.
If you are a biker or in a collision with one, it is important not to remove the helmet. Taking off the helmet can cause further injuries if they have already suffered from a head or spinal injury in the collision. The only circumstance that the helmet should ever be taken off is if the biker stops breathing. If this is the case, remove the helmet slowly and carefully, then perform CPR. ensure their airway is clear and continue chest compressions until the emergency services arrive.
Swap Details
If no one has been injured and the scene is safe, then you should take photos of the scene and any damage caused. Be sure to include photos of the surrounding road so your insurers can get a clearer picture of who is at fault. Exchange your details with the other driver, these details should include: insurance provider, address, full name, license plate number, contact information and make and model of the car or motorcycle. It’s also wise to take note of the weather, if the ground was wet or if there was fog.
Contact your Insurer
After your car or motorcycle accident, you should contact your insurer as soon as possible. Give them the details of the other driver and your accounts of the accident. Sometimes the third party might contest and not take liability for the crash. In some cases this is then taken to court, if this is the case ensure you have competent and dedicated motorcycle accident attorneys sometimes these are allocated to you through your insurance.
Whilst you’re here, check out How Parents Can Raise Confident Drivers.
Cheers,
Big Daddy
If you would like me to review your product, service, restaurant, or travel destination, please send me an email at craig@bigdaddykreativ.ca or tweet me at @BigDaddyKreativ
Craig Silva
Craig is a husband, a father, team leader, travel and food writer, senior youth group coordinator, designer, brander, community builder, volunteer, and social media strategist. Craig likes to travel, go camping, go on road trips, watch movies, build stuff, operate the grill, and sing with his band. Craig is a member of the Travel Media Association of Canada. In June 2017, PR firm Cision identified Craig as one of Canada’s top 10 most popular male bloggers in the parents and family space.
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