After a car crash, your head may start to reel. You may understandably feel disoriented and even in pain if injuries resulted from the accident. If you have never been involved in a collision before, you may not know the first steps to take when addressing the situation. By remaining as calm as possible, you may have the ability to handle it effectively.
Because safety remains a top priority after a car accident, one of the first steps you will certainly want to take relates to assessing any potential injuries that may have occurred. This includes injuries to yourself, your passengers and any other parties involved in the crash.
Recognizing injuries
In some cases, injuries may not immediately make themselves known. You may feel fine directly after the incident, but you may notice some signs of potential issues once some of the adrenaline has worn off. You may have decided to move forward with other steps involved with addressing the accident -- such as taking down driver information or making photos of the scene -- only to begin feeling dizzy or otherwise unwell.
You should take any signs of discomfort seriously and contact emergency services immediately. If an injury does not get the proper attention, you could suffer additional adverse effects.
Contacting emergency services
Typically, the easiest way to get ahold of medical professionals and other emergency personnel after an accident is to call 911. When speaking with the dispatcher on the line, you may need to provide information such as:
- Your name and phone number
- Details regarding the accident, including specific injuries, traffic issues and other hazards
- The exact location of the incident, including road name, mile markers, travel direction and other distinctive details
Police may also respond to the scene if considerable damage or other serious outcomes occurred. Authorities can help you determine important information regarding the accident that may prove useful to you later.
Seeking compensation
In the event that an accident caused by another person resulted in your suffering serious injuries, you may have reason to seek compensation for those injuries. Because legal proceedings can seem confusing, you may wish to gain more information on personal injury claims in Texas to learn more about your possible options. In many successful cases, restitution may come about for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other permitted damages.