No matter the severity of a car accident, it can be a traumatizing event for everyone involved. Often, it can be difficult for a person to make clear decisions when they have just experienced the chaos of a motor vehicle accident in New Jersey.
Understanding what steps to take immediately following a collision can help all drivers to be better prepared for situations that require quick thinking and decisiveness. The Huffington Post shares some actions that drivers should take if they have been involved in an accident. These include the following:
- Move their car to a safer portion of the roadway if possible to do so.
- Contact authorities and do their best to provide descriptive information regarding vehicles involved, persons injured and medical attention required.
- Put the safety and well-being of themselves, passengers and other drivers above everything else by remaining calm, staying away from moving cars and attending to injuries.
- Determine the injuries sustained by themselves and others and do their best to administer aid without compromising the safety of anyone involved.
- Take pictures of the accident scene, and then document what happened in a way that accurately describes the events.
- Exchange personal information with other drivers who may have been involved including their contact and insurance info.
Drivers should avoid pointing the finger of blame at other motorists or admitting fault, and allow authorities to make their own decisions based on witness accounts and evidence at the scene. According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, nearly 320,000 accident reports are received by the Bureau of Transportation and Safety each year.