Driving involves more than the technical act, and inexperienced teenagers often pay a heavy price for mistakes they make after an accident. Driving can be one of the most dangerous things anyone can do. Each year, vehicle accidents cause about two million injuries and 30,000 deaths.
Teenagers don’t usually know what to do, and they tend to panic. Collisions can be painful and terrifying, but you should try to remain calm. Contact the police and report the accident. Check for injuries and seek professional medical help. Gather as much evidence as you can about the crash and hire a lawyer for legal guidance.
Steps To Take After the Crash
The following steps will help you simplify the aftermath of a car wreck. Remember that your safety comes before anything else. Once you are out of harm’s way you can do the following:
Calm Yourself
Take deep breaths to calm yourself, and try to analyze the situation. Are you, passengers, and other vehicle occupants injured? Are the vehicles seriously damaged, or can they be safely driven out of traffic?
If you can’t get out of the car, keep your seatbelt fastened and turn on your hazard lights. If you can, drive out of traffic, and set up any emergency features like hazard cones, safety flares, etc.
Call 911 to Report the Accident
It is always safest to report even a minor fender-bender. The 911 operators will contact the police, emergency rescue service, and even the fire department.
Check for Injuries
You should check on everyone involved in the crash to see if they have any injuries. It is best for anyone injured in an accident to see a doctor. Even seemingly minor injuries can generate symptoms later, and all injuries should be checked out by qualified medical staff.
Write Down Accident Details
While everything is fresh in your mind, you should write down what you think happened. List road conditions, weather, and any other factors that might have caused the accident.
Take photos of the scene. Jot down the names, addresses, and other information about any witnesses, and contact and insurance information about the other driver. You should also describe the damage to each vehicle, note the make, model, and license numbers.
Contact one of the skilled Boca Raton car accident attorneys for further guidance on collecting evidence for a winning case.
The Aftermath
The aftermath of an accident can affect people in different ways. Victims can develop severe psychological issues after a wreck. Some people often feel that they should have done more to prevent the accident and become wracked with guilt.
You or the other accident victims might experience these feelings. Some experience post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD. If you feel any emotional trauma after a crash, it is crucial to consult a trained mental health therapist. They can set a diagnosis and steer you on the path to recovery.
Increased Accident Risks for Young Drivers
According to a study, about 2,400 teenagers die every year in vehicle accidents, and another 258,000 are treated for injuries. Teen car crash deaths generate extreme expenses of about $4.8 billion for medical costs, property damage, lost work wages, and related costs.
The accident rate for male teen drivers is twice as high as the rate for female drivers. Chauffeuring multiple teenagers also increases the risk of car crashes. The risk of collisions runs exceptionally high during the first few months after getting a driver’s license.
Teenagers drive less than all but the oldest citizens in the United States. However, the rate of severe driving accidents runs 300% higher than the rate for older drivers. That is why all states have adopted some form of graduated licensing restrictions to reduce night driving and the number of teen passengers while raising the age for unrestricted driving.
Getting Legal Help for Your Case
If you’re involved in a car crash, hiring a qualified attorney is highly recommended. Some drivers try to take advantage of inexperienced drivers even when the teenagers weren’t at fault. Insurance companies try to pay out the lowest possible claim that won’t cover all your expenses. A lawyer can make sure that the client’s rights are protected.
Author: Early in his journalism career, Kerry L. Tucker had a revelation: there were not enough experts reporting on law issues. Legal matters are part of daily life. Yet, there seems to be a general aversion towards them. One of the main reasons for this is that the convoluted legal language is difficult for many people to follow. Therefore, he decided to change how the law is perceived by the public. Throughout his career, he met with many people who shared their personal stories with him. Some of these hit him harder. One of the cases that stayed with him and influenced his future career development was a car accident case involving a child. From then on, he decided to zero in on car accident lawsuits
