If you were involved in a motor vehicle accident while driving and hit another vehicle, pedestrian or property, would you know what to do?
When you’re involved in a motor vehicle accident, there may be injuries, damages and emotional instability. In order best handle an accident, there are important things that you must be mindful of at scene of the motor vehicle accident and afterwards. Below is a list of five pointers to keep in mind when any motor vehicle accident occurs.
- Check on all passengers: Make sure that everyone else involved in the motor vehicle accident is okay and seek medical attention if required. If a person has been severely injured by the motor vehicle accident then it is essential you wait for the appropriate medical assistance to arrive at the scene.
- Stay at the scene: It is most important that you never leave the scene until it is deemed appropriate - that is after details have been exchanged and medical assistance has been given to the injured. If you choose to leave the scene and a fatality or casualty arises, then you could potentially face serious criminal penalties afterwards.
- Call the police: If the motor vehicle accident involves substantial damage to property, physical injuries or even casualties, then you should call the police in order to lodge a report.
- Exchange information: If involved in an motor vehicle accident with another motor vehicle, ensure you note down their full name, phone number, address, driver’s license number, vehicle plate number and take photos of the damage. When talking to the drivers of the other motor vehicles affected, be cooperative and calm at all times and do not apologise for the incident if you are unsure, as this may potentially come back to bite you in the form of legal liability for the incident.
- Inform your insurance company: Report the incident to your insurance company as soon as viable and to the best of your abilities. Provide them with photographic evidence and a police report if possible.
Remember to only provide the essential facts about the incident that has taken place involving your motor vehicle. It is best to avoid speculating what has happened or making any admissions of guilt which may come back to haunt you if found otherwise. Contact an experienced traffic lawyer from Freedman & Gopalan for advice as soon as possible if you are charged with a traffic offence in the near future.
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident or traffic related offence and would like advice, give us a call on 8917 8700 or fill out the enquiry box detailing your issue and we will get back to you ASAP.