Suffering an accident in public is an ever-present possibility for all of us – but something that not many of us consider in our day-to-day lives. Such accidents, though not often at the front of our minds, can be everything from minorly inconvenient to majorly life-altering. Road traffic incidents are the most common kind of public injury, injuring 82 people on average each and every day. If you are unlucky enough to suffer such an accident, what should you do?
At the Time of the Accident
Naturally, the very first thing you should do after suffering an accident – be it a slip, trip or fall, or as the victim of an unforeseen event like a cyclist or vehicle collision – is to assess your own condition. Rushing to stand back up could significantly exacerbate existing injuries, whether sprained joints, broken limbs or head injuries like concussion or whiplash.
Passers-by will naturally be on hand to help you as best they can; if you are injured enough to require immediate medical attention, an ambulance is likely already on the way. If you are alone and unsure of the extent of your injuries, an ambulance can be a wise move to minimise the risk of further or worsened injury.
If you are well enough to stand and move, or at least lucid enough to converse with witnesses, you might also take this opportunity to get details from them. You may need their testimony later, if seeking compensation via civil action (more on which later). If you are able, you should write down your own recollection of events as they occurred, so as not to risk memory-related issues in the future.
Recovery
The key priority after suffering an accident in public should always be your recovery and rehabilitation. If you were treated by paramedics, or at your local hospital, you should follow their orders for rest and recuperation. If you were able to carry on without immediate on-site medical attention, you should book an appointment with your GP in order to ensure you didn’t miss any invisible injuries – particularly if you have noticed headaches or fatigue afterwards.
In the weeks after your accident, rest should be the operative word. Taking time from work would be ideal, in order to ensure the smoothest recuperation period possible. A phased return will enable you to gauge your energy levels, and avoid burning out.
Civil Action
If the accident you suffered was no fault of your own, there may be an opportunity for you to claim compensation via civil action. This would involve collecting all the information you have to hand about your accident, including witness testimony and medical records, and stating your case to a personal injury solicitor near you. They can help you with next steps, and initiate civil proceedings against the at-fault party – who may be an individual, private business or even the local council.
