subject: 5 Things You Must Do If You Are Involved In An Auto Accident [print this page] Being a victim of an automobile accident is one of the most undesirable situations in one's life. A minor crash can rattle your nerves and maybe cause a few bumps or scratches, but a major collision crash can be fatal and lead to a serious auto injuries that can last a lifetime. Latest studies show that as many as 6 million auto accident incidences happen every year in the U.S. claiming the lives of almost 43,000 people a year.
Victims in automobile accidents are normally in a state of shock right after the collision. They are not usually able to think straight and may seem disoriented. However how one reacts after an accident is very important and helps to ensure that any potential injury and damage that may result from the accident are minimized. The following five crucial checklists should be executed following any auto accident.
*Check for Auto Injury upon recovering from shock. One should immediately check one's physical condition and then the conditions of the other occupants in the car. Due to the sudden impact of any auto accident, sometimes even a minor rear-end collision can cause a crushing impact on one's body that may have unpleasant repercussions at later stages, such as recurring neck pain, back pain, joint ache or headache. If there is serious auto injury that requires immediate medical attention such as bleeding or unconsciousness, one should immediately call for ambulance service.
*Report the Crash to the Police after checking to make sure no immediate emergency is required. A call to the police should be made immediately. An accident report issued by the police is the most important document to help with insurance claims, be it damage to the car or claims for personal injuries. As it may take time for the police to arrive at the scene of the accident, it is wise to make the call as soon as possible to reduce waiting time. Right after receiving the police report, you should check to see if all of the details in the report are completely accurate.
*Assess the Damage while waiting for the police to arrive. One should obtain information from the driver of the other car such as his or her full name, contact number, address, driver license details and insurance information. You should also take many pictures of any damage to the vehicle as well as take notes based on your observation on whether the other driver is driving under the influence and let the police know when they show up.
*Medical Examination. This is a very crucial step to protect against any auto injury that may cause lifelong inconveniences and if they do, a medical report should be available to ensure one is sufficiently compensated for. At times some injuries resulting from an automobile accident may not show for days or weeks later. Injuries such as impact to the spine for example can lead to spinal joint misalignment that can affect the body's overall function. This may subsequently trigger off the contraction of other ailments or diseases. Therefore, one should get a free consultation from their Chiropractic Specialist and request for X-ray, MRI or CT scan tests right after the accident so that a medical report is available to support any future insurance claims.
*Submission of Insurance Claims. Finally, one should submit one's insurance claims to obtain compensation for losses suffered including damage to property and personal injuries. Many accident victims suffer from neck pain, back pain or headache as a result of the impact they have suffered, which normally require long term visits to the chiropractor. The Chiropractic Specialist should be able to refer you to an attorney if there is complications with submitting your claim to your Insurance company. Records have shown that many auto accident victims have found chiropractic to be the most effective treatment to relieve pain caused by spine or joint misalignment's that are associated with auto crash impacts. Many insurance companies acknowledge medical reports from the chiropractor as valid documentations to support personal injuries claims.
by: Dr Derek Day DC
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