Car accidents are “exciting” events and not in a good way; they tend to cause a rush of adrenaline. After a crash, your heart and mind can race and you can even find yourself shaking. If you’ve been in a car accident before, you know how unnerving they can be. They happen so fast and if they’re serious, they can be very traumatic.
Should you or should you not move your vehicle after you’ve been in a car accident? Most states suggest that drivers move their vehicles when it is safe to do so. Why? To prevent more accidents from occurring more than anything else.
If you think about it, two or more vehicles sitting in the middle of the roadway can definitely lead to more crashes, which could mean more injuries and even fatalities, so moving a vehicle after a crash is usually viewed as the responsible thing to do when moving is safe and practical.
When Not to Move a Vehicle
Before we get into when not to move a vehicle after a crash, we want to make one thing clear: If you are able to move your vehicle to the side of the road, be sure to take pictures of the accident scene with your smartphone if you have the chance. If you can take 30 seconds or one minute to take pics or even video footage, it could help your personal injury claim.
Let’s face it, it’s not always practical to move your vehicle after a crash. You may be too injured and need to be transported to the hospital, or your vehicle may be totaled, which rendered it undrivable. If someone is too injured and moving the vehicle could further injure them, call 911 right away and leave the vehicle where it is.
Maybe you can’t get out. You could be trapped inside your vehicle, and you may not be able to get out until the fire department arrives at the scene and uses the “Jaws of Life” to remove you from the mangled vehicle. The Jaws of Life is a rescue tool that is used by firemen to cut away cars so they can get people out of them who are trapped inside.
If your vehicle can be moved safely without hurting anybody, it’s wise to do so but if you have a cellphone, be sure to snap some quick pictures first. If your vehicle is totaled or if moving it could endanger someone who was injured in the accident, it’s better to leave the vehicle where it is, but make sure you call an ambulance immediately.
Injured in a car accident? Contact our firm to file a claim for compensation.