What To Do When You Crash A Car In A Remote Area While You’re Traveling
The hustles and bustles of city life, the traffic, the smells, and even the road-raged drivers can become too much for you. A quick solution to this is a road trip to the cabin in the beautiful countryside where you’ve always wanted to go. This sounds serene, but keep in mind that road and weather conditions can change quickly and more so in remote areas. Additionally, this is where help can be tricky to reach you. In the unfortunate event that you crash a car in a remote area, keep calm. Here’s what to do.
Evaluate The Situation
No accident is light regardless of the severity of your injuries. Understandably, after a crash, you can switch to panic mode and that can have a worse outcome. Instead, keep as calm as possible, look around you, and assess the situation you are in. If you weren’t alone in the vehicle, get to know how your passengers are doing. After you get a clear assessment of the crash, your surroundings, and everyone on board, you can make an informed decision on how to proceed.
Additionally, and if you can, take as many pictures of the crash as you can, they might come in handy when it comes to compensation. Going by the sentiments from the attorneys at https://www.kazlaw.ca/, it will be important to call your lawyer if you are in a tight situation that might require legal counsel. Your attorney will advise you on the important steps to take as well as help you through the legal battles ahead.
Contact Emergency Services
Even though you are in a remote location, chances are you will get hold of emergency personnel via any communication gear you might have in your car. Understandably, they might take a while to get there, after all, the mountainous areas of Alaska aren’t easy to get to, right? But they will get to you in due time. Therefore, it’s very wise to always plan for such scenarios; have a phone, a satellite phone if you can, or a walkie-talkie that can scan different frequencies.
Safety Is Paramount
Accidents can happen anywhere, whether on a rough road in the countryside, on your way to the Grand Canyon, or even in the creepy woods. Wherever it is, it’s up to you to ensure your safety, that of your passengers, and the other road users who had the same idea of getting away from the city. After you have a clear assessment of your situation, and if it’s safe to be out of the wreck, you can do so, otherwise, stay inside until help gets there. Additionally, erect signs on the road, especially at bends to help warn other motorists. This might include lifesavers, light flares, or switch on the emergency lights. Do whatever you can to ensure your safety.
Move If You Can
You might be alone in the car and have not sustained severe injuries that can limit movement. You might be scared to move, but your life might depend on it. You don’t want to be stuck in the Rocky Mountains with just an arm fracture just because you don’t want to leave your car behind. Gather only essential gear like water, phone, attire depending on the region, and the first aid kit just to mention but a few. If you can move, then move, find a civilization where you can rest up, get help, and plan on the next steps.
Get Medical Attention
Regardless of how you feel, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Don’t wait to get back to the city to visit your primary caregiver. Your injuries might worsen and be life-threatening when neglected. The moment you get to the nearest hospital, or even clinic, explain what happened and get help. Once you get back, you can get further medical assistance especially if you sustained severe injuries.
Talk To Your Insurance Company
After all is said and done, the dust has settled, it’s now time to visit your insurance company. The accident might have happened in a remote area but you still have an insurance claim. Contact your lawyer and the police so you can have all the relevant information before you start the claim process.
There might be no traffic snarl-ups in the remote areas, but that doesn’t mean a car crash cannot happen. Before you drive to such areas, always make sure you have all the necessities in case you get into an accident. Always drive safe, and remember, traffic rules still apply there as well.