If you are hit by a car while you are cycling or walking, it is very important to react in the right away. While your instinct might be to either get angry or to insist you are fine and hurry home, these responses can prevent you from getting the help you need after an accident. Follow these five steps to help yourself if you are the victim of a road collision.
1. Remain Calm
Being hit by a car is a very stressful situation, but even so it is important to stay calm and collected. If you shout at the driver who hit you, you could make a dangerous situation even riskier. Stay calm and move away from the road to minimise the chance of another collision occurring.
2. Call the Police
It is important to notify the police of collisions between vehicles and pedestrians or cyclists. The police need to come to the scene and document what has happened. They can provide you with a police report, which you will need if you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver responsible for the collision.
3. Remind the Driver They Mustn't Leave
Drivers who hit a cyclist or pedestrian have a legal responsibility to stick around and wait for the police to arrive. Remind the driver that leaving the scene of an accident is a crime. If the driver refuses to wait with you, take a photo of their vehicle, including the registration plate, so the police can track them down.
4. Get the Driver's Information
The driver should provide you with their contact information, so your solicitor can get in touch with them to discuss insurance claims or personal injury compensation. You should also get the contact information of anyone who has witnessed the accident.
5. Visit a Doctor or Hospital
After an accident, you might not think that you have any serious injuries, but it is still important to have a medical checkup. Visit a hospital or walk-in clinic so a doctor can check you for sprains, whiplash and concussion. Not only does taking this step help to keep you safe from delayed effects of the accident, it also creates a medical record that you can use as evidence if you decide to file a personal injury claim.
When you have done these five essential things, consider contacting a solicitor so you can get the compensation you deserve.
If you have been injured while at work, you may be thinking about making a personal injury claim. On this blog, we aim to provide you with all of the info you need to make a successful claim. We would like to issue a disclaimer that we are not legal professionals. However, we are all very passionate about this subject and we hope that our passion shines through in the articles we have published here. Read on to find out about the process of making a claim and the ways in which an attorney can help you. Thanks for taking the time to check us out.