Car accidents don't always involve multiple drivers. Sometimes a single car can crash or slide out of control due to road conditions, car failures, trying to avoid an animal, or other factors. In accidents involving collision with another driver, there is a lot of advice available. But what should you do if you're in a single-car accident?
1. Remain calm and assess any injuries.
The most important thing in any car crash is to remain calm. Think through what you should do next and keep your cool about the situation. Assess whether you seem seriously injured. This could be blows to the head or other limbs, cuts, pulling of muscles, whiplash damage, broken bones, and more. If you seem injured at all, call an ambulance immediately.
Regardless of whether you notice immediate damages, see a doctor after an accident and keep records of any treatment. Sometimes injuries from a car accident do not appear until a day or two after the crash. Make sure you did not sustain any harm that needs attention.
2. Take pictures and gather information about the crash.
If you are in a single-car crash due to a factor outside your own fault, such as swerving to avoid a reckless driver, take pictures of the crash. Get photos of the damages to your car and the crash site. If your crash was due to avoiding another driver, try to get their license plate number and their insurance information. If they leave the site without talking to you, ask witnesses if they saw the person's license plate.
If another driver was at fault, you may be able to sue their insurance company for the crash. If another driver wasn't involved, it is still important to document what happened and the damages your vehicle sustained.
3. Consult a lawyer about getting compensation
Even if you were the only car in the crash, you may be able to get compensation if the crash wasn't your fault. You may be able to bring a case against another driver's insurance company if they caused you to swerve, the government if road conditions were dangerous or your car company if the car had a defect that caused the vehicle to malfunction.
If you are a passenger in a single-car accident, you should also consult a lawyer about your options. Even if the driver was a friend or relative, you may be able to receive compensation from their insurance company.