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What To Do After A Mississippi Car Accident

Car accidents, even minor ones, can be very unsettling to both drivers. Know in advance what to do in the event of an accident. Your primary concerns should be the safety and well-being of all parties, and taking steps to protect your interests in the aftermath. Here are a few steps that will help you respond appropriately.

Safety First

If anyone involved in the accident sustained injuries, call 911 immediately. Don’t try to move someone with injuries or allow yourself to be moved. Paramedics can determine the extent of injuries and move victims without causing more harm to the victim. Leave the vehicles where they are if there were injuries or the physical damage to the vehicles was extensive. Otherwise, move the cars off the road to a safe place. Be careful when exiting the vehicle, doing so on the side away from traffic.

For the Record

Call the police to report the incident. In some areas, the police respond only to serious accidents, so give them the basic facts and ask for instructions. Whether the policy of local police is to respond or not, you will need to exchange information with the driver of the other vehicle. Get their name, address and phone numbers, insurance information and license plate number. Provide your information as well.

Take pictures of both cars and any other evidence you can, such as skid marks or rubble from the damage. Use the camera from your cell phone if you have one. Alternatively, some drivers buy a disposable camera and keep in the glove compartment specifically for this purpose.

What To Avoid

When speaking to the police and to the other driver and/or passengers, cite only the facts. Do not admit or imply guilt, by apologizing, for example. The shock and anxiety people often experience following a collision, even a minor one, color your perspective, and it’s not uncommon for drivers to feel it was their fault in the immediate aftermath of an accident, even when it wasn’t. This is important, because in many states, liability is decided under a system called comparative negligence. This system recognizes that in a lot of cases, both parties had at least some responsibility for the accident. Admitting guilt at the scene could affect how much liability you are later assigned.

After the Fact

Call your insurance company as soon as possible after the accident to report the facts. They will need to know when and where the incident occurred and the other driver’s information. They will also ask if a police report was filed and whether any injuries occurred. Don’t offer any additional information. Then, if you feel there is a need, you can contact an attorney, who can advise you whether any additional steps are needed to protect your interests further.

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Teenager Attitudes Toward Near Misses Illustrate Misconception Regarding Accident Causes

Teen drivers continue to be a leading cause of Mississippi car wrecks largely because of their lack of experience behind the wheel.  A recent survey of teen drivers revealed that a full 70 percent of teen drivers admit to a near miss accident.  While it might seem these near miss car accidents provide a learning opportunity for many inexperienced teen motorists, the reality is that many of these teen drivers blame the near miss on other drivers or adverse whether conditions.  Almost half of the teens in the survey admitted being in multiple near misses with more than 40 percent admitting to multiple near misses within the last 12 month period.

The timing of the survey is particularly appropriate because the summer usually is a peak period for teen car accidents.  Teen drivers spend substantially more time on the road during the summer because they are out of school.  While the study is helpful, the data also may provide guidance to issues that lead to teen accidents in Mississippi.  A full 55 percent of the time teenagers in the survey who had experienced a near miss blamed it on the other driver or adverse weather.  By way of comparison, teen drivers admitted to engaging in conduct that causes a substantial number of Mississippi car accidents far less frequently:

  • Speeding 9 percent of the time
  • Distraction by passengers 6 percent of the time
  • Texting while driving 2 percent of the time

Based on actual accident rates, these low numbers associated with some of the leading causes of teen car accidents seem unrealistic.  This data suggests that perhaps teen drivers might benefit from education efforts designed to make teen drivers more aware of the dangers of speeding and distracted driving, which are regarded by most traffic safety experts as leading causes of teen accidents.

A prior 2009 study conducted on behalf of Allstate Insurance found that 48 percent of boys and 36 percent of girls admitted to speeding or otherwise driving aggressively.  In teen auto accidents, 39 percent of males and 24 percent of females were speeding.  Government data indicates that distracted driving kills as many as 4,000 teenage drivers per year.

The stark contrast between the near miss auto accident data in the recent survey of teenage drivers and longstanding data on the leading causes of teen driving car accidents in Mississippi and throughout the U.S. reveal a sense of disconnect between teenager attitudes and the real causes behind teen auto accidents.  While no tolerance teen alcohol policies and graduated drivers license programs have helped alleviate Mississippi auto accidents, it appears more education of teens regarding the leading causes of teen accidents might be an important tool in the efforts to curb teen driving fatalities.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured or suffered wrongful death in a car accident involving a teen driver, the experienced Mississippi teen car accident attorneys at the Barrett Law Office may be able to help you obtain compensation for your injuries or loss.  Our Mississippi car accident law firm has been representing those who suffer personal injury or wrongful death in Mississippi car crashes since 1933 so call us today at (662) 834-2376.

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