After a collision might not exactly be the optimal time to be making decisions that could impact your future and your physical or financial health. Unfortunately, it’s when you need to start making decisions that do exactly that. We’re going to look into the four big questions that will be floating in your head after an accident and what answers you might want to give.
Should you get yourself checked out?
To be fair, this is a bit of a trick question. Let’s just use the opportunity to say that, yes, you should definitely, always take a trip to the doctor after an accident. You should report the incident to the emergency services and ensure everyone, including yourself, is in good health. Even if you feel mostly fine, seemingly minor cases of whiplash and otherwise uneventful cases of head trauma can turn very serious over time. It’s a good idea to get an early log of any injury caused in case you’re going legal in the aftermath of a crash, too.
Is it worth repairing?
Looking at your car, you need to think about how much is worth spending on repairs. You shouldn’t assume a car is a write off just because it looks like a lot of damage has been done, first. The kind of work done in smash repairs might surprise you. But there are a few factors you need to consider. Is the car likely to last much longer even with repairs? Would it be more economically sensible to buy a new car instead? Bearing in mind the hike to insurance you could take if you make a claim on your own coverage, would you actually be spending more on repairs than if you just paid out of pocket?
Is there a claim to be made here?
Not everyone likes to get lawsuit happy. But if a car accident isn’t your fault and it has a real impact resounding in your life, such as requiring a new car, extensive repairs, or taking you out of work, you should consider who’s going to pay for all of that. Claims advice services could give you a real idea of how successful a claim is likely to be before you start paying any legal teams. From there, you can figure out whether it would be a waste of time or whether it’s the logical step to ensure that responsibility for the collision is taken.
Should you keep driving?
This is a question you’re going to most likely ask after the dust has settled a little. After the initial reverberations of the crash have been felt, you might still be dealing with the psychological damage of it. Many people do have a crisis of confidence or even develop a fear of driving after an accident. Take it slow and start practising in safe spaces. The best way to get over a fear is to confront it one step at a time.
There are no answers that are always right when it comes to dealing with an accident, except for the fact that, yes, you need to get yourself checked out. You need to look at the damage an accident has done and the most sensible ways to protect yourself from or deal with those damages.
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