wife holding husband's hand as he lays in a hospital bed

What To Do If Your Family Member Gets Injured In a Serious Car Accident

A car accident can happen to anyone at any time. That someone can be a member of your family, and that can be stressful.

The moment someone you love becomes involved in a car accident, you have to try to stay calm and act according to the law and ethics.

Traffic accidents have never been pleasant, but the following information will help you achieve the best possible outcome and make it easier for your family members.

emergency orange hazard triangle in front of a damaged black car after accident

Take a Deep Breath

First of all, take a deep breath and stay calm. Tell a doctor immediately (if necessary, record the injuries the person has received).

Check everyone who was there and those who may have been involved in the accident. Help those in need of an ambulance, but do not move the injured person unless it is necessary for their safety.

If possible, be sure to move vehicles out of traffic to the other side of the road.

Gather Information

If it is obvious that it is another driver’s fault, such as a collision from the back of the car, then he or she is responsible for reporting the accident to their insurer. But don’t just assume that another driver will take care of it.

Leaving the scene of an accident is a felony, but only if there is evidence of a crime.

Therefore, you want to collect the following information:

  • Name, address, and telephone number of another driver
  • Name of insurance and policy number of another driver
  • Witness statements and their contact information (if applicable)
  • Photographs of the place (including the registration plates of the other driver) and the place of impact

Even if it is not clear to you whether a family member may have contributed to the accident, gathering the above information will help you resolve the case. A police report could give you the advantage of confirming your version of events.

Contact a Lawyer

If you have additional questions about legal options, a lawyer can help you take action if the case is not easy to resolve.

To maximize the amount of compensation for a traffic accident, the lawyer must have a good understanding of traffic accidents and traffic violations and be well acquainted with court practice when deciding on the amount of damage. In such and similar cases, the injured parties can contact a law office. 

When a car accident injury occurs, the clock starts ticking on the legal claim. A lawyer is someone who will be able to look at your case and get the best out of it for you.

As the folks at https://bottarolaw.com say, there is certainly too much to do on your own, and far too many options for big businesses to manipulate you. You require the best car accident lawyer that is dedicated to helping the injured. 

If you have lost a spouse, parent, or child in a car accident, you are entitled to compensation for mental pain due to the death of a close person. Also, if you have lost a brother or sister with whom you have lived together, you are equally entitled to the same benefit. 

On the other hand, if your spouse, child, or parent has become a person with a severe disability due to injuries from a traffic accident, you are equally entitled to the said benefit.

The listed benefits also belong to the extramarital partner, provided that there is a more permanent community of life with the deceased or injured.

Contact Insurance Company

Traffic accidents often happen in the blink of an eye, which means that your loved ones may not have a complete picture of the events that led to the collision. Also, there may be cases where another insurance company denies liability.

In both cases, your respective company should know, and then it will either initiate proceedings against another insurer or initiate a collision claim for your family member’s vehicle.

And by proactively contacting the insurance company, regardless of guilt, you are establishing a well-intentioned effort to report the accident.

Provide Comfort

Helping a member of the family who has recently been in a car accident is the next best thing you can do for them.

Asking them if they need assistance may be all they require—just realizing someone is there to assist them emotionally can often be more beneficial than physically assisting.

Here are some ways to help:

  • Obtaining grocery items and running other daily chores for them
  • Preparing meals for them 
  • Cleaning the house
  • Doing the housework
  • Taking care of pets
  • Checking their mental health
  • Letting them bring up the accident
  • Paying attention to their fears
  • Assisting them with showering if necessary
  • Maintaining their healthcare services
  • Taking them to their medical visits
  • Helping them with walking and other activities

Ask your loved ones what kind of help they need and what they’re comfortable accepting from you. An open conversation is sometimes the biggest help.