Vehicle accidents

			Vehicle accidents - first steps
				Back

1. Make the area SAFE

If a minor accident
and no serious injuries,
take a few quick referencing pics
then move the vehicles off the road.

If the vehicles (and occupants) cannot be moved ....
Day time -
Get people to go
more than the stopping distance along the road(s),
tell them to keep themselves safe
so no one else gets hurt
and try to warn other drivers to slow down,
by waving bright coloured vests, towels or shirts.

Night time -
Add torches, reflectorised triangles & stand under a street light.

2. Onsite basics

Turn off the vehicle. Help the driver(s) if they cannot do it.
Turn on the hazrd warning lights.

If there are injured people IN THE VEHICLE
and the vehicle is safe,
leave the occupants in their seat belts
and cover them gently to avoid shock & further injury
until qualified help arrives.

If there are injured people OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE
and the ground (or bitumen road) is not hot,
cover them gently to avoid shock & further injury
until qualified help arrives.

If the ground is hot, try to slide layers of paper or cardboard
under all or part of the injured to protect them from burns.
Again, cover them gently to avoid shock & further injury
until qualified help arrives.

In all cases, if there are injured,
call 000 and ask for an ambulance & police.

3. Insurance & liabilities

Admit nothing, do not apologise or accuse others.
Discuss only with the police.

Collect names of all involved, (drivers & passengers)
plus names of witnesses.

Include:
addresses
phone numbers,
driver licence details,
insurance company details,
vehicle plate numbers, &
vehicle details (colour, make etc).
Take lots of pictures if you can.
Write down times, and a brief
outline of what you think happened.

Normal police & insurance company practices:

It is normal practice that all drivers involved will be tested
for alcohol, and now even drugs. (Refusal may result in
a loss of a diver's licence and/or fines).

The owners of the vehicles should contact their insurance
companies. This may also be required at the accident site
to determine which vehicle recovery service provider
should be used, and where the vehicle should be taken.

In very serious accidents, the police may determine that
the vehicle is impounded and will arrange for its towage.

Other useful stuff .... Anxiety symptoms

Following an accident, many people can suffer
acute and post traumatic stress.
Click here for a download on helpful notes from the collective health, insurance and related bodies involved to improving the outcomes. (Motor Accidents Authority of NSW - inc help guides)

Possible anxiety symptoms and the signs :

PHYSICAL - agitated, cannot get to sleep, suffereing fatigue
EMOTIONAL - Helplessness, anger, loss of control, irritability
COGNITIVE - worry, difficulty in concentrating, confusion
INTERPERSONAL Probs - relationships & social withdrawl
IMPAIRMENT Probs - reduced work ability, can't do usual things.


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