Over 4 lakh people in India are killed in car accidents each year. There are also many car accidents that involve property damage only, i.e. destruction of the car. With ample companies providing car insurance, you need not worry about the cost of the repair of your car. One out of five car accidents lead to serious injuries or even death. God forbid if you ever find yourself in a car accident, here are the 6 tips you could consider to protect yourself and your property.
- Stay at the spot
Do not panic and drive away from the spot of the accident irrespective of it being a very minor one. Stay at the spot and calmly think of what to do next. - Take hold of the scene
Set up flares or keep your flashers on to prevent further accidents. If the place is dark and there are no street lights, keep your flashlight on while you wait inside your damaged car or near it. - Take help from the police
It is always a good idea to ask the police for some help, even if there is no serious personal or property damage. You might require a report by the police to claim insurance from your insurance company. The damaged vehicle should remain in the place of the accident unless it causes traffic. - Seek medical attention
Most often, personal injury caused by a road accident is apparent only after a few hours of the mishap. Sometimes you feel the pain two to three days after the accident. It is always better to be safe than sorry, and hence, even if you are sure of not getting any injuries, you should get yourself checked by the physician. Spinal cord is the organ that suffers the most in such accidents. If you became unconscious for even a couple of seconds after the injury, you are highly likely to suffer a head injury, which should be treated before it is too late.
- Click pictures
Your phone camera is always at your service. Click pictures of the visible damage on your car. It is advisable to take pictures of visible injuries as well for your physician to be able to treat you better. - Maintain a file
File all your documents related to the accident together. You never know when you might require them again.
Sometimes in panic we tend to make many mistakes and aggravate our misery. Do not let this happen if you happen to meet with an accident.
Author: The author is a frequent writer for reliancegeneral.co.in and loves to share personal experiences from which others can learn.