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Whether you have years of roadside experience or are considering purchasing your first car, there are plenty of important factors you must consider before hitting the road.

This means far more than simply getting behind the wheel of your dream sportscar – as you also need to ensure you know everything there is to know about road safety. This is because roadside accidents are far more commonplace than you’d like to believe – 336 accidents occurring each year in the UK.

Ensure you are knowledgeable about the recent changes to the Highway Code as expectations have changed. For example, if drivers don’t know how to drive near people riding bicycles and overtake too closely, this could lead to a serious accident, as could assuming you have right of way turning into a road rather than considering pedestrians’ new-found priority. 

By now, you’re probably well versed in the steps you should take immediately following the accident (moving to a safe space, calling for emergency services, checking for injuries etc.). However, you might be a little unsure about what to do after this – in the days and weeks following the event itself. This is likely due to the fact that we view accidents as something that happens to other people as opposed to ourselves – but knowing what to do ahead of time means that you are prepared for what could lie ahead.

With that in mind, here are some tips that you can use to cope with the aftermath of an accident.

Don’t play the blame game. When bad things happen, our first instinct is to try and attribute the blame to someone or something. However, it’s also important to understand that sometimes, accidents just happen. While another driver may be at fault for the event, holding onto residual anger won’t change what happened, nor will it help you feel any better.

Get in touch with your insurance provider. Whether you need medical treatment and support or need to carry out repairs on your vehicles, it’s likely that your accident will put a strain on your finances. However, in these cases, you must reach out to your insurance to receive the financial support you may need moving forward. Right now, studies suggest that millions of drivers have no idea exactly what their car insurance policy covers – meaning that it might be time for you to dust off your policy and get educated.

Look into car accident lawyers. Sometimes, following an accident, those involved may be able to claim some form of compensation – especially if you needed some time to recover from injuries or were unable to use your car for a long time. However, making these claims can be tough – as they seem to be made impossible to navigate by providers. In these cases, you may want to reach out to an expert team of car accident lawyers who can do the difficult work on your behalf and ensure you get the money you deserve.

Give yourself some time off the road. While you may feel as though you are ready to start driving again right away, many of those involved in accidents have stated that they needed a little time off from driving afterwards. This gives you the time you need to recover – both physically and emotionally from what happened – and alleviates some of the stress and pressure you may have been feeling.

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