Opinion
No one would want to be involved in any car accident, but with the
existence of bad roads, drunk-driving and negligence of road laws as well as
speeding in Nigeria, the probability of an accident happening at one point in
time is rather high. Yes, It is scary and unimaginable, but then, it is also
very important that pedestrians and motorists to know how to react if it
happens to them.
What exactly should you do? Jumia Travel, Africa’s No.1 online
hotel booking portal, shares 5 things to do when you are a victim of a road
accident in Nigeria.
Stay calm, do not lose your temper
The first reaction of most Nigerians when they are involved in an
accident, no matter how minimal, is that they get riled up and lose their
temper. No doubt, getting in an accident unleashes a lot of unhealthy emotions,
including fear and anger; however, you need to stay calm. Screaming at the
other driver, laying blame or yelling is never a good idea. Again, don’t give
in to fear or rage and tell people that the accident was your fault as you would be admitting liability, which
could expose you to a lawsuit.
Do not leave the scene of the
accident
Unless you are badly injured and have to be rushed to the
hospital, ensure you remain at the scene of the accident, and if you are a
pedestrian, do not let the driver leave. Get all the motorists basic
information, as you would in the event of an auto collision: Driver’s license,
insurance information, license plate number. Then whip out your phone and snap
pictures of everything else. If it’s a hit and run, try to snap a photo of the
car’s license plate, or at least aim to make a mental note of its make and
color. For the offender (the person whose vehicle has caused the accident),
leaving the scene of an accident can be a misdemeanor offense and can rise to a
felony if people are injured.
Call the Police and file a report
No matter how minimal the impact of the accident, ensure you alert
the police and wait for them to come and view the scene of the accident. Do not
give into any “gentleman’s agreement” to not get the police involved, as you
cannot predict what may evolve later on as a result of the accident. Also,
ensure you fill a police accident report afterward. Without police
documentation, you basically have no proof the accident ever happened and you
cannot get help from any insurance company.
Involve a Lawyer if you have to
Depending on the gravity of the accident, the best thing to do is
to hire a lawyer immediately. Many
Nigerians make the mistake of underestimating the legal involvement associated
with an accident. You will need some good quality legal help to ensure that you
are not being taken advantage of when it comes to sorting out damages. Again,
you may have difficulties with your insurance company following the accident
and it will take a skilled professional to negotiate these issues to put the
most money in your pocket as possible.
Go to a hospital and get a medical
clearance
Even if you do not have any cuts or injuries, you need to go to
the hospital for a check-up. That way you are certain there are no internal
injuries and the rush of adrenalin, as well as the force of the impact, has not
affected you in any way. Failing to get yourself checked immediately could
cause a lot of problems for your health later on, especially if there was
something that was not detected.
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