What To Do When You Are A Victim Of Road Accident In Nigeria

No one wants to be involved in a car accident, but with Nigeria’s terrible roads, drunk driving, and disregard for traffic laws, as well as speeding, the chances of an accident occurring at some point are very high.

Yes, it is terrifying and unthinkable, but it is also critical for pedestrians and motorists to understand how to react if it occurs to them.

So, what should you do? We’ve put up a list of 5 things to do if you’re involved a car accident in Nigeria.

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Don’t lose your temper, keep cool

When most Nigerians are involved in an accident, no matter how little, their immediate instinct is to become enraged and lose their temper. Without a question, being involved in an accident triggers a slew of negative feelings, including fear and fury; yet, you must maintain your composure. Screaming, blaming, or yelling at the other driver is never a good idea. Again, don’t give in to your fear or wrath and tell others the accident was your fault since you’ll be admitting culpability and risk being sued.

Do not attempt to leave the accident scene

Unless you are seriously injured and need to be taken to the hospital, stay at the accident scene, and if you are a pedestrian, do not allow the car to leave. As you would in the event of a car accident, get all of the drivers’ basic information: A driver’s license, insurance details, and the license plate number are all required. Then take a picture of everything else with your phone. If it’s a hit-and-run, try to get a photo of the license plate or at least make a mental note of the car’s brand and color. Leaving the site of an accident can be dangerous for the offender (the person whose car caused the accident).

Call the Police and file a report

Regardless of how minor the impact of the accident is, make sure you call the police and wait for them to arrive at the scene. Do not agree to a “gentleman’s agreement” not to call the police because you never know what can happen later as a result of the collision. After that, make sure you fill out a police accident report. You have no proof the accident ever happened without police documentation, and you can’t receive help from any insurance carrier.

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If necessary, consult a lawyer

The best thing to do, depending on the severity of the accident, is to hire a lawyer right once. A lot of Nigerians make the mistake of underestimating the legal ramifications of an accident. You’ll need some high-quality legal assistance to make sure you’re not being taken advantage of when it comes to calculating damages. Following the accident, you may have troubles with your insurance company, and it will take a qualified specialist to handle these issues in order to put as much money in your pocket as possible.

Get a medical clearance at a hospital

You should go to the hospital for a check-up even if you don’t have any cuts or injuries. That way, you can be sure there are no inside injuries and that the adrenaline rush, as well as the intensity of the contact, have had no effect on you. Failure to get oneself tested right away could lead to a slew of health issues in the future, particularly if something was missed.

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