When you’ve had a car accident, the hope is that everything will go smoothly thereafter. You hope for no injuries, minimal damage to vehicles, and that you and any other parties involved can resolve the issue peacefully and with as little financial commitment as possible.
A lot of the time, that’s just how it goes! Most car accidents are fairly minor in nature, and little bumps are easier to take care of. Every day, strangers collide and everything turns out about as well as it possibly could. But there are also plenty of nastier accidents that involve disputes, vehicle damage, and even personal injury. And if you ever find yourself in a situation like this, it becomes important to know how to handle it. Here we’ll cover some broad tips in that regard that may seem dramatic at a glance, but could wind up being necessary.
You Should Contact A Lawyer
Contacting the police is generally recommended even for minor collisions, and notifying insurance is usually wise. But if you’re involved in a more violent accident, or if the other party involved is being uncooperative, you should be prepared to contact a lawyer to represent and protect your interests. This is a step you obviously hope not to take, but in some cases even the knowledge that you’re in contact with a legal representative can persuade someone else to be a little more reasonable in dealing with the issue.
You Might Need A Doctor
The hope is that even in a more serious collision, your car will do its job and protect you from serious harm. And naturally if anything drastic happens you’ll probably wind up in the hospital, or speaking to an ordinary medical professional. But even if you sustain a minor injury, you might want to look into help early on before you get the chance to regret not doing so. If you’re experiencing stiffness in your neck or pain in your back, for instance, you might want to consult a chiropractor or even get a massage or start physical therapy. If you receive a cut on your face or some other kind of blemish you might seek out a doctor who can help with any reconstruction that might be necessary. It all goes according to the specific industries, but this is something you should take care of right away – not after all the legal stuff is taken care of.
You’ll Need to Address Repairs
In a lot of cases, auto services will be the first thing on your mind after an accident. It’s easy to just look at the damage done to your car and want to get it taken care of, and in some cases you’ll have to do so before you’re able to drive again. It’s still a good idea to get yourself taken care of and resolve any disputes first, however. Of course, if the police and the insurance companies agree that you’re not actually at fault for any damage your vehicle has sustained, you probably won’t even have to pay for the bulk of the repairs needed.
It Might Be Time To Look For A New Car
If things are bad enough, and you’ve got everything else squared away, you might need to face facts and start looking for a new car. The hope, obviously, is that your vehicle can be repaired and put back on the road. But if it’s totaled, there really isn’t anything to do for it. Just be sure that before you head to a car dealership to start looking for the next vehicle for your garage, you have everything squared away with insurance. Depending on the nature of the accident, the parties involved, and who is found to be at fault, you may be able to get a significant insurance check that can go toward your new car.
