A rear-end collision can take you by surprise. You cannot expect or brace for a rear-end collision, which makes it tricky to handle. You can experience some serious whiplash or spinal cord injuries because you cannot tense up your muscles to prepare for the impact.
This can lead to some serious injuries and damage to your vehicle. A rear-ending incident usually happens because of distracted driving, and depending on your luck, it could be a minor bump or a full-on high-speed collision.
Either way, it can be a traumatic experience, and you can be left dealing with the aftermath of it for years to come. If you want to be a bit more prepared to face such an eventuality, you should continue reading.
1. Call the Emergency Services
After being rear-ended, your first priority should be to call the emergency services. Depending on the severity of the situation, you can ask for help. If you notice that you or the other driver is injured, you can ask for an ambulance.
Similarly, if the injuries are only minor, you can just ask for the police. Either way, you need to be able to ask for help, and that can be done only when you call the emergency services right away. It could be that someone is trapped in their vehicle; for that, you will also need to rely upon emergency services.
2. Make Sure Everyone is Safe
A rear-end collision can sometimes be quite severe. Suppose the other driver is not paying attention, and they collide with you, carrying a considerable amount of speed. In that case, you and the other driver can end up with some serious injuries.
You can experience spinal cord injuries and a serious concussion; on the other hand, a person who rear-ends you can end up with broken ribs and injuries to their face and head. This can lead to some serious medical complications, which is why you have to make sure that everyone is safe after the incident.
3. Emphasize on Safety
Another thing that you have to keep in mind after a rear-end collision is that you are still in the middle of a presumably busy road. It could be that the visibility is low due to rain or fog, or it could be that it is nighttime and it is hard to spot your cars from a distance.
This can lead to a dangerous situation where an unsuspecting motorist can also collide with one of your stationary cars. To avoid such a misfortune, you have to make sure that you move your vehicles to the side of the road. This will ensure a safe environment until the authorities arrive.
4. Note Down the Details
After being rear-ended, you have to make sure that you are okay. If you are doing okay, then you should make sure that you note all the details of the incident. You have to start by exchanging information with the other driver.
You should also note down their license plate number and the make and model of their car. In addition, you should make a note of any other details that stick out to you. All of these details will enable you to be in a better position if you end up in court because of your accident.
5. Seek Medical Attention
If you have been badly injured in your accident, then it is understood that you will be taken away and given medical attention. However, even if your accident was minor, you have to make sure that you seek medical attention. Sometimes, there can be underlying injuries that are not apparent.
You could have a concussion that you do not know about, and that can lead to a loss of consciousness later on. If you happen to lose consciousness while driving, that can lead to another accident. This is why you have to seek medical attention after your accident.
Make sure to mention anything out of the ordinary to your doctor. Even if you start to have medical complications later on, you will be able to prove that they were caused by your accident.
6. Get in Touch with an Attorney
Contacting an attorney can be crucial if you have been rear-ended. There can be situations where having an attorney on your side can be exactly what you need. Your attorney will be able to guide you through every step of the way, and that will land you in a better position.
You can get in touch with a Rear-End Accident Attorney to discuss your matter. There can be instances where the other driver might try to pin the blame on you, which can lead to an extensive battle with their insurance provider. Having an attorney on your side can come in handy if such a situation arises.
7. File a Claim Through Insurance
After consulting with your attorney, your next step should be to file a claim with your insurance company. Your insurance company will pursue the insurance company of the other driver for seeking damages on your behalf.
It is the job of your insurance provider to get you the best possible compensation. By filing a claim through your insurance provider, you will be able to make sure that you take the initiative and start the process of getting the damages adjusted.
8. Deal with the Emotional Implications
Another thing that you have to keep in mind after being involved in a rear-end collision is that such a traumatic event can have complex emotional implications. These emotions, if not processed properly, can end up causing issues with your day-to-day life.
You can be left feeling handicapped because of them, and that can negatively affect your professional as well as your personal life. You can be left fearing driving on the road, which is not healthy at all. To make sure you do not have to face such issues, you should get in touch with a professional early on.
You should see a professional who has expertise in dealing with trauma-related incidents to talk about your feelings and fears. This will enable you to better adjust emotionally after your incident.