
I asked a 19 year old relative recently what they would do if they were in a car accident. It is no surprise but the answer was “Call my mom”.
I asked the question to try and better understand how to reach younger people who have been in car accidents and can use my help, but the answer I got triggered an interesting thought: what would a car accident lawyer tell a parent to tell their child who just got in a car accident?
This Blog is an attempt to answer the question: “What do I tell my adult child who just got in a car accident?”
Step 1: Get the Facts
I would begin by asking questions to make sure you know what is going on; and they would be some mix of:
- Are you ok?
- Is everyone else ok?
- Are you in a safe place?
- What happened?
These questions help you quickly assess their safety and the situation at hand.
Step 2: Reassure Them and Focus on Safety
Then I would go with some general advice:
- Get to a safe place if you aren’t already.
- Don’t panic; just breathe, we will get through this.
Helping them stay calm is one of the most important things you can do in the moment.
Step 3: Immediate Actions to Take at the Scene
Depending on the severity of the incident I would then give the following advice:
- Call 911 (Both police or for ambulance or fire support).
- Call your insurance company.
- Take pictures of the cars, the accident scene, and any damage or injuries.
- Gather contact information and insurance details from all other drivers and any witnesses.
- If you can drive the car home safely then great; otherwise call a tow truck (or have your insurance or the police call a tow truck).
- Either get a ride to the hospital or home or have someone pick you up.
These steps will help protect your child both physically and legally.
Step 4: Regroup and Next Steps
After the dust settles:
- Talk to your child about what happened.
- Decide together what to do next.
- Determine if your child needs a lawyer. If you’re not sure, review our blog “When/Why Should You Hire An Attorney After A Car Accident.”
- If needed, call a lawyer and schedule a free consultation.
There is no downside to calling a lawyer after a car collision. They will be able to quickly determine if they can help you or not, and at least at Hunking Law, consultations are free. A good lawyer can guide you through the process and will ensure that your child’s rights are protected.
Conclusion
I have no idea if this blog will be helpful, but I am hopeful that someone somewhere reads it and they are a little more prepared for this situation than they otherwise would have been.
If your child has been in a car crash in Oregon and you’re not sure what to do next, don’t hesitate to reach out – we’re here to help. Call us today at 541-HUNKING, 541-486-5464.