Getting in a car crash is a terrifying experience. It can damage your body, wreck your vehicle, and put a large dent in your wallet. Although the first responders are already there to help, you are still in the middle of it. You are trying to take in all the details while also feeling safe. Perhaps most terrifying is the fact that you cannot just tell what happened. You have to write it down in a way that makes sense to readers.
Car accidents happen for many reasons: a sudden swerve to avoid an obstacle, an overzealous texting driver, or even the driver being sleep-deprived or under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Regardless of the reason, once you are involved in a car accident, it’s critical to accurately describe what happened and who is at fault in order to ensure that the right justice is served. When writing an accident report, you will have to follow the guidelines set forth by the police department. These guidelines will help you articulate the facts of the case in the correct way so that the accident can be accurately reconstructed.
Prepare For The Accident
Before the accident, you were driving comfortably in your lane, minding your own business. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a car comes barreling towards you. You have no idea how fast it was coming or where it came from. In an attempt to avoid a head-on collision, you swerve and crash into another vehicle. Luckily, there were no fatalities in this particular accident. You were both wearing your seat belts and only suffered minor injuries. You describe the accident using the following keywords:
- erratic
- violent
- dangerous
- catastrophic
- traumatic
- violent
- bodily
- painful
- crash
- impact
- collision
- tumultuous
Now that you have properly prepared for the accident, it’s time to gather all the details. Start by making note of where you were and who you were with. If there is more than one person in your car, take down who was driving and who was in the passenger seat. You should also write down the make and model of the vehicles as well as their color. Make sure to get the names and numbers of any witnesses. In addition, you should call the police and report the accident. If the car that you were driving is fully insured, no paperwork will be necessary. You can simply file a claim and be on your way.
Recount The Incident
Once the police arrive and you have filed your claim, it’s time to recount the incident. Start by describing what happened leading up to the accident. You should include the time of day and any traffic lights you were running through. You should also note if there were any warning signs that you failed to notice. For example, if a car was braking rapidly in front of you, but you did not see the brake lights, this could mean that the driver was distracted or in the middle of changing gears. The police may also ask you to fill out a witness report, so make sure to give them a full description of what you saw. If you feel comfortable doing so, you can add in any details that were not included in the original police report. This can be extremely useful in the event of a dispute as to who was at fault for the accident. Keep in mind that your story will be read by many and that you want to be as accurate as possible so that your story does not get disputed.
Identify The Victim’s Injuries
After the accident, your immediate thought is to help the injured party. You will want to make sure that their injuries are documented correctly. Look for injuries to the head, neck, arms, and legs. If there is any evidence of spinal injuries, then these should also be included. Make sure to note how the person is breathing, whether they have any pain, and whether or not they have a pulse. Take a look at the other vehicle and see if it is severely damaged. Note any missing parts or if there were any casualties. This will also help determine the extent of your own injuries. If you are not sure whether or not the other driver is seriously injured, then ask the police for assistance or a witness. They will be able to tell you if there were injuries
Once you have properly documented all of the above, it’s time to sign the paperwork and get on with your life. Remember, however, that this was a truly horrible experience, and you should be grateful that you are alive. While this may not seem like a bad thing, having an accident can seriously shake up your life and put a huge damper on your personal freedom. Driving is a dangerous thing, and it would be best if you did not do it for the rest of your life. This would also ensure that you and others around you are extra careful when driving. Most importantly, try to have a better outlook on life and avoid putting yourself in dangerous situations. This is what keeps you alive.