Car Crashes – What to Expect and What to Do?

Not sure what to do after a car crash? We have the answers.

What do you do after a minor car accident?

After a minor car crash, you should stop your vehicle and exchange your details with the other people involved in the car accident, this should include addresses, phone numbers and obtaining the driver’s licence number. In addition to crash reporting, You should take photos of the accident scene. On some occasions taking videos of the accident scene may be helpful, though care should be taken not to make a recording of another person without their consent.

If you plan to drive your car home after the accident you should check to see whether your vehicle has sustained significant damage and whether the steering wheel feels OK. Safe driving is essential, especially after a stressful car accident.

Serious injuries may require the injured person to attend hospital following the accident. If you have sustained minor injuries then you should as a minimum attend your general practitioner to report the injury as soon as possible after the accident.

What happens after a car accident not your fault?

If a car accident is not your fault then the other drivers involved in the car accident should pay for the repair of your vehicle. If they have insurance then the insurer will usually pay.

If you have suffered personal injury as a result of the accident then a claim can be made with the Insurance Commission of Western Australia (ICWA), the compulsory third-party insurer in the state of Western Australia. To successfully make a claim with the Insurance Commission you must show that another driver was at fault for causing the injury. This article provides some information on how to determine who is at fault in an accident.

If you have a claim with the Insurance Commission they will ordinarily pay you reasonable medical expenses following which you may be eligible for a payout in respect of your claim.

What is the meaning of vehicular accident?

A vehicular accident refers to an accident involving one or more motor vehicles. It may include rear-ending collisions, single-vehicle collisions, collisions in poor weather conditions, motor vehicle crashes involving a car and a pedestrian, a motor vehicle head-on collision where people suffer serious injuries, and dependency claims for a fatal crash where one or more people are killed as a result of motor vehicle crashes.

How are motor vehicle accidents treated?

If you experience a personal injury following a motor vehicle crash then you should seek medical attention. If the injury is serious this would ordinarily be provided by a hospital and specialists. If the injuries a more minor then treatment is usually provided by a General Practitioner in conjunction with allied health providers such as physiotherapists and exercise physiologists.

If the injury is minor but does not go away then the injured person is ordinarily given a referral for a scan such as an MRI scan, CT scan or x-ray.

Please note, if you have made an injury compensation claim for car crashes. The insurance company or your personal injury lawyer may request you to attend an independent medical examination (IME). The IME is not for treatment purposes, but it is important to work with your medico-legal doctor.

What is the first aid for a motor vehicle accident?

Australia Post provides useful information and tips about First Aid following a motor vehicle accident in their article ‘First Aid After a Car Accident‘.

If you are involved in a serious car crash you should call Triple Zero (000). You should not assume someone else has called. St John Ambulance Australia outlines what you should detail to the emergency line operator in the event of an accident:

1. Request that an ambulance be sent to the site of the accident;
2. To the best of your ability, give the exact location or address of the accident. This could include giving the street name, suburb, or any landmarks nearby;
3. Give the approximate number of people who were hurt in the accident;
4. Let the operator know whether serious injuries have been suffered the type and extent of injuries and if anyone is trapped on the scene;
5. Advise of any other emergency services that may be needed, such as fire services, if there is a gas leak or a fire;
6. Give your phone number to the operator and be the last one to hang up.

It is recommended to learn and memorise DRSABCD. This is an action plan which helps in a situation where life-saving first aid is needed. It can help avoid deaths where injuries are serious.

What are the classes of vehicle accidents?

There are several classes or types of motor vehicle accidents. Some of the most common classes of vehicle accidents are as follows:

1. Rear-End Collisions – These are probably the most common kind of motor vehicle crashes in Western Australia. It occurs when a vehicle strikes another vehicle from behind. Usually, the vehicle behind is at fault but it depends on the circumstances.
2. Side Swipe Collision – This accident usually happens on a multi-lane road like a highway or freeway. One car enters the lane of another vehicle and hits that vehicle from the side. There is often a dispute regarding liability as both drivers say the other driver entered into their lane.
3. Side Impact Collision – This collision often occurs at intersections or roundabouts. Usually, a car drives into the side of a motor vehicle. Who is liable will depend on traffic light signals, stop sign signals, give way signals and other road safety rules.
4. Head-On Collisions – Head-on collisions are usually severe and can result in drivers and passengers becoming seriously injured. As these accidents are seriously they are usually investigated by police officers from the closest police station. Like side swipe collisions there is often a dispute regarding liability as both drivers say the other driver entered into their lane.

Hit and run accidents also happen frequently in remote areas. If you are injured in a car crash and there is no set time on how long after a car accident can you claim. If you decide to make an injury claim for car crashes, it is recommended to talk to a car accident lawyer to understand your options.

What are the 4 steps to follow after an accident?

Following a car accident, 4 steps to follow are:

1. Following the car crash move your vehicle to a position of safety and if appropriate start the hazard lights to alert other traffic;
2. Obtain the personal details of the people involved including any witnesses. This includes name, address, phone numbers, insurance company and driver’s licence details;
3. Take photos of the cars involved and the car accident site;
4. Report the accident – You should report the accident to the Police. If you have suffered a personal injury, and the car accident was not your fault or was only partially your fault a claim can be made with the Insurance Commission of Western Australia.

Every car accident is different so the steps you take will differ from accident to accident.

What should I expect after a car accident?

Every car accident is different so it is difficult to know what to expect, but in general, the most common injury from a car accident is whiplash. This generally involves muscular pain in the neck and lower back. This pain can resolve in a few days. Sometimes the pain does not resolve. You should seek medical advice from a doctor following a car accident who can advise you regarding the prognosis for your injuries.

Following the accident, if you have suffered a personal injury you may be able to make a claim with the Insurance Commission if the accident was not your fault or was only partially your fault.

Foyle Legal practices in the area of motor vehicle accident injury claims. These claims usually last for at least 18 months post-crash. If you engage a personal injury lawyer they can help you to resolve your claim, generally on a no win no fee basis.

What injuries can you get from getting hit by a car?

Whiplash is the most common injury from getting hit by a car, but injuries do vary quite considerably. Injuries from a head-on collision may well include broken bones and ligament damage. Car accident victims who are involved in a serious accident are at risk of serious injuries such as brain injury. PTSD, knee injury, back injury, shoulder injury and CRPS are also common in car crashes.

If you are hit by a car then you should seek advice from a doctor as soon as possible post-injury so that advice can be provided regarding your injuries.

How do you deal with getting hit by a car?

Following a car accident to deal with being hit by a car you should note down the details of the accident which include the accident location, the personal details of the other drivers involved and witnesses to the accident. The accident should be reported to the Police.

If you consider that you were not at fault and you have suffered a personal injury, consideration may be given to making a claim with the Insurance Commission of Western Australia (ICWA). If ICWA accepts your claim, the Insurance Commission will ordinarily pay your medical expenses and then in some circumstances consider making a payout.

Please note, for complex situations such as a motor vehicle accident at work, a car accident on the way to work, or a fatal crash injury that happened at work, the injured victim may have a workers compensation claim, as well as a motor vehicle crash claims.

If you want to know how much your motor vehicle accident injury claim is worth, then you could engage the services of a no win no fee motor vehicle accident injury lawyer like Foyle Legal. At Foyle Legal, we have teams of workers compensation lawyers and car accident lawyers. We can help with your WorkCover claim and your motor injury claims.

Your first attendance is an obligation free and we do not charge upfront legal fees. Call Foyle Legal on 0408727343 to see how we can help you.

What Causes driver crashes?

Car crash insurer, Budget Direct, has conducted research into the causes of car accidents. Common causes of car accidents identified include:

1. Speeding – This includes travelling in a vehicle faster than the speed limit, or faster than road conditions will allow;
2. Distracted Driving – Increasingly drivers are distracted by things like mobile phones but other causes of distraction may be drinking, eating, smoking or applying make up;
3. Fatigued Driving – This may be that the driver has not had enough sleep or has been on the road for too long and as a result road safety becomes impaired; and
4. Drink Driving – Only one or two standard drinks can be enough to push people over the legal limit for operating a motor vehicle.