The mechanics of the impact and subsequent tearing of metal squealing of tires seems to play out the way the old slow motion pictures do. You experience a heightened awareness combined with a frustrating disorientation. Your mind is working overtime to try to gain an understanding of what is happening and what you should do about it. Thankfully, you finally come to a stop, as does the other vehicle.
Now you begin the careful mental process of assessment, have you been injured, if so how severely? Can you move and if so is it safe to remain in the car or safe to get out of the car? Where is the other party to this mayhem and what is their condition. All of these things come to mind yet you remember what is expected of you following such a collision, instinctively you turn off the car and take off your seat belt. Luckily the car door opens smoothly and you get out of the now crumpled vehicle.
Your next move is to see if you can extricate yourself from the vehicle which could now be an unhealthy place to remain. The door can be opened and you work to unstrap yourself and get out of the car. Each effort reminds you that you have been in an accident and the fatigue and confused lethargy of your muscle are foreign experiences. Nevertheless you manage to turn off your engine and get out of the car and look around to appraise the condition of your vehicle and that of the other party.
Now the reality of the affect on your car comes to light. It is always a shock to see the result of a collision on an automobile. But as you take in the damage, you know that this is not the time to dwell on what happened to the car, there are other priorities. Your fear is allayed upon seeing the other driver has gotten out of his vehicle and is mirroring your action. Only now do you begin to realize there were others around who may ave witnessed the crash.
The cell phone call to 911 gets the first responders on their way as you collect the insurance and registration paperwork from your glove box and your driver license from your wallet in preparation for the arriving police investigator. After you are sure you have all the paperwork necessary, you approach the other party to exchange insurance information, phone numbers and addresses. You wait for the police to arrive, and use the time to call your insurance company to report this unfortunate event.
As you remember to call you insurance company to report the event, witnesses have arrived to inquire about your condition and assure you of what they saw and that they are willing to make a report for you. The insurance agent will ask a number of important questions most of which you will have some idea about but not in great detail. Insurance agents are used to this and will record the initial information as such and let you know they will follow up later.
As the cacophony of noises from approaching first responders highlights the reality of the event, the insurance agent signs off to complete reports and make arrangements. You have finished debriefing the officer on the events as you remember them and he has turned to witnesses and the other party to continue his investigation. It is only now that you begin to feel a deeper pain and realize your initial assessment of your condition may have been too cursory. This is the time to call your insurance company back and make and ensure they know you will likely have to make an injury claim. The earlier they know about this the better, and they may have documentation requirements you will need to know about before you seek attention.
About the Author:If you have been involved in a car crash you should look at a personal injury claim and find out from the legal side of things if an injury claim can help improve your life.
