It happens to the best of us — you’re on vacation, driving down the road, and suddenly a deer jumps out in front of your car. Or maybe it’s not an animal that caused your accident but another driver who wasn’t paying attention.
Regardless of what happened, if you were injured in an Alberta car accident while on vacation, here’s what to do afterward.
Stay calm
This is the most important thing you can do to ensure everyone stays safe. If you are injured, call 911 immediately and request emergency services at a hospital. Give them as much information as possible about where the incident occurred, including the name of the road and the town you are in.
If you’re injured, the extent of your injuries may not be immediately obvious, and seeking professional medical help is the best way to find out. If you do have health insurance (for example, from your employer or from the province where you live), use it. Your travel health insurance might also cover some of these expenses, so check with them before paying out of pocket for anything related to an Alberta car accident injury.
Make sure everyone is safe!
Check on others in the accident and ensure they’re okay too. Ask if everyone is uninjured and offer any help or assistance needed.
Exchange information with other drivers
Exchange information with other drivers involved in the accident—name, address, phone number, license plate number, and driver’s license number (if available). If they won’t give you their information, write down their license plate number and note the car’s and driver’s details.
Take photos
Take photos of the scene of the accident—before any cleanup or repairs have been done—along with any damage done to vehicles or property from water runoff due to firefighting efforts (if applicable). Also, take pictures of the injured if anyone is seriously wounded.
Don’t move any of the vehicles!
Wait for police officers to arrive on the scene before moving any vehicles or attempting any repairs yourself. This will help ensure your safety and prevent further damage from occurring.
Lawyer up!
Getting immediate advice and legal representation is important if you’ve been involved in an Alberta car accident. You may be able to pursue compensation for any injuries or property damage caused by the accident.
Contact a good injury law firm to get immediate advice and representation. This car accident lawyer in Edmonton will ensure your rights are protected and help guide you through the legal process so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
What you shouldn’t do right away after an accident while you’re on vacation in Alberta
- Do not voluntarily accept responsibility, liability, or make statements of fault;
- Do not accept payment from the at-fault driver or discuss any payout;
- Do not forget to notify the police and your insurance provider about the accident;
- Stay at the scene of the accident and exchange information with the driver of the other vehicle
- Do not hesitate to get in contact to schedule a free consultation to go over the next steps.
Conclusion
It’s always a good idea to keep your personal information handy, so you can easily share it with other drivers. If you do not have paper and a pen on hand, try using your cell phone camera or voice recorder to capture the information from the other drivers involved in the accident. Most importantly, ensure that everyone is safe and secure before calling the police or seeking medical attention for yourself or others involved in the accident.