When you are involved in an accident, you may experience shock, fear and stress, which can affect your ability to know what to do immediately. Although difficult, it’s important to remain calm.
One of the first things to do is check yourself for injuries. Here is how you can do this:
Look for visible injuries
Check yourself for visible injuries, such as cuts, bruises, swelling or bleeding.
Test for movement
You need to stay put, keep your seatbelt fastened and check if you can move. While sitting up tall in good posture, gently try to move your neck, shoulders, arms and legs. Stop when you feel numbness, pain, weakness or stiffness. If you can’t move, call 911 and stay in the car until medical help arrives.
Take a deep breath
While still sitting, take a deep breath and listen for breath sounds. Other signs to look for are difficulty breathing, chest pain and coughing.
Check others
If you have a passenger, help them check if they are injured. If you have a child in their car seat, you should generally not remove them unless there’s an immediate danger like fire. You can also check on the other driver. Confirm if they can move around or if they need help.
Very serious injuries can sometimes go unnoticed in the immediate aftermath of a crash, especially by the untrained eye. Adrenaline can significantly mask pain, making it difficult to know if you are injured and some injuries are internal. That is why calling 911 and getting medical attention is a safer option than trying to determine injuries yourself.
Seeking prompt legal guidance can help you understand the further steps to take after an accident on the roads.
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