It helps to have a post-accident recovery plan in mind

There’s no way to know who’s behind the wheel of the vehicles that are sharing the road with you at any given time. You may find that traveling by car is sometimes quite uneventful. You’re on the open road, and there’s barely any traffic. You arrive at your destination without really thinking much about the potential hazards that often plague Massachusetts highways.

Other times, it’s an entirely different story. You might be stuck in traffic for hours or you might wind up in a collision if another driver runs a red light or looks down at a cellphone instead of at the road ahead. Such incidents often have far-reaching and long-lasting consequences. While you might not like to think about the possibility of an accident, it can be helpful to at least have a plan in mind for what to do if someone hits you.

Take one step at a time, if you can

Sadly, many Massachusetts collisions result in fatalities. If you are fortunate to survive a crash and are able to move, think and talk, the ideas on the following list may help you devise a post-accident plan:

• It’s always important to assess your injuries. Depending on the situation, your injuries might range from minor to severe or even life-threatening.
• Also regarding injuries, they’re not always immediately apparent, which is why it’s always best to seek medical attention, even if you think you feel okay.
• If your vehicle came to a halt in or near moving traffic, it’s best to try to exit the roadway as safely as possible.
• Calling 911 can dispatch all needed officials and rescue workers to the scene, including police, firefighters and paramedics.
• Always document as many details of a collision as you can. This might include taking photographs of the accident scene and the license plate of the other vehicle or vehicles involved.
• It’s also a good idea to get the contact information, meaning name and physical mailing address, of the others involved as well as anyone else who may have witnessed the collision.

Many Massachusetts accident victims also contact experienced personal injury attorneys, especially if driver negligence was a causal factor toward their injuries. You might have to miss work during recovery, which could add to the financial burden associated with a collision. Medical bills, in-home care services and, perhaps, court fees (if litigation takes place) are other types of economic damages for which accident victims can seek monetary judgment in a civil court against those who were at fault.