World

Experts Share 6 Critical First Steps to Take After an Accident

Published

3 years ago

March 10, 2020

Accidents can occur at any time, any place and to anyone, even the most careful drivers. In the US alone, over 90 people lose their lives each day from road accidents. This results in over 6 million accidents that occur in the country in the span of a year.

With 3 million people getting injured each year, 2 million of whom get permanent injuries, its a clear indication that the possibility of someone being in an incident is relatively high. And, although numerous measures have been put in place to reduce these accidents, they still happen.

Different states have varying laws and procedures on how to deal with an accident. And, although there are still some common ones, some will vary based on the state. Among the most essential laws when it comes to car accident claims include:

Statute of limitations when filing an injury lawsuit.
The fault versus no-fault laws
Limits on the possible compensation amount.

All these can be quite different from state to state. And, based on where you live, you need to fully understand the accident laws that govern that place. If you live in a state like Texas, which is among the top 10 states with the highest number of crashes per year, it will be essential to know the following facts:

Accident Laws in TexasBeing a fault auto insurance state, it means that in Texas, you can file a lawsuit or an insurance claim against the driver at-fault. Any driver in Texas can, therefore, be held accountable for injuries or damages they cause during a motor accident.

After an accident, the Texas law requires every driver involved in the accident to file a crash report, form CR-2. This ought to be done within the first ten days after the accident. The car crash reports are quite relevant when you need to file any lawsuit against the other driver, or want to claim compensation.

It’s critical to note that if you want to file an insurance claim, a crash report is a must-have document. This is because it shows exactly what happened, and helps the insurance company or the court to determine who was at fault. Luckily, although each police department has its own registry of crash reports, they still use the same CRIS system. And all these reports are uploaded online.

This means that if the accident occurred in El Paso, you are able to access all of the El Paso police reports online and easily file your claim. All you need is the right information such as the date of the crash, location, and the vehicles involved, and you are ready to get your crash report.

Dealing with a Car CrashSo, how do you deal with an accident if you are caught in one? And, how do you overcome the frightening ordeal?

Well, here are the most critical first actions that you must undertake after an accident.

Pull Over, Turn on Blinkers, and Call 911

The first thing to do if you can is to pull over and turn on your blinkers to alert other drivers of the accident. You should then check the wellbeing of your passengers and, whether any of you have visible injuries or not, make sure to call 911.

If the accident is more serious and there are injuries and other damages, make sure to call the police. In fact, in some states, it’s a requirement that you call the police after an accident. The police officer who comes to the scene will document the accident and complete an accident report. If no police officer shows up, visit the nearest police station and fill out the report yourself

Exchanging Information

This is the second step, and which is also quite important. Ensure that you get the names, contacts addresses, insurance info, license plate numbers, driver’s license number, and any other relevant information of the other driver(s). In case there are other passengers, also collect their contacts and names.

When talking to the other drivers whether you think they are at fault or not, always try to be friendly. However, make sure that you don’t apologize or accept blame for anything. Let the insurance and the police decide which party is liable for the accident.

Talk to Witnesses

If you can move around, make sure that you talk to witnesses and pen down whatever they saw. Also, remember to obtain their names, contacts, and addresses.

You can even inquire from the locals if there have ever been any accidents in the same area.

Take photos

An easy way to document the scene is by taking pictures of that scene. They will help keep a record of what really happened there. A video recording will also be helpful.

Make sure to take pictures from every angle of the scene and to capture every detail. Right from the vehicles, any road signs, skid marks, road constructions, bends, and any other detail. Taking snaps of everything, including those that might seem irrelevant is quite essential.

The pictures will be useful in court in the event that you file a lawsuit, or help the insurance company to determine your compensation for the damages.

Get Medical Help and Keep Track of any Treatment

Whether you are feeling hurt or not, ensure that you visit the hospital for a checkup. You might not note any injuries immediately, but you could be injured internally so, see a doctor.

Also, keep a record of any treatment you receive as a result of the accident. Note down all the names of every doctor or physician that treats you during that period.

If you have missed any workdays, also record them, as well as any normal activities that you’re unable to undertake due to injuries from the accident. All these are essential in determining the extent of damages and compensation.

Get in Touch With Your Insurance Company

Never forget to contact your insurance company. You can either call your agent or contact the company immediately. Calling them from the scene of the accident can be more useful.

Since the accident might have left you in shock, worried or upset, the police officer on site can give a more accurate account of the events to your insurance company than you. So, let them explain the situation.

Key TakeawayAccidents are never easy to handle or pleasant to be in. But how you handle the whole situation can make things easy or difficult later. Follow these tips and make it much easier.

World

Bringing clean water – Christopher Kenny’s Preservation Earth Project

Published

2 weeks ago

January 22, 2023

Jenny Jackson

Science plainly shows that a human can survive three weeks without food, yet most individuals cannot survive three to four days without water! Dehydration sets in, and the person will go into shock and become vegetative even if they continue to breathe. In other words, water is an essential requirement. A living thing cannot thrive without it. Nonetheless, it is a horrifying truth that billions of people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water.

In developed countries, when everything from technology to luxury is available, receiving clean water at home is as ‘natural’ as breathing fresh air. Most individuals in advanced nations may not pay much attention to it, but this is not the case for the rest of the globe. Many countries continue to lack access to clean water sources or water appropriate for human use. Safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene at home should not be limited to the wealthy or those who live in cities. These are some of the most fundamental human health requirements, and all countries must ensure everyone has access to them.

The Preservation Earth Project (PEP) made its way to Tsaile, New Mexico. Over time, uranium mining, fracking, and pesticide abuse damaged the water supply, resulting in a high occurrence of numerous illnesses. Approximately 35% of the Navajo people do not have access to flowing water, and some must go to a remote location to fill barrels with water from a polluted local spring.

There is no doubt that climate change is boosting storm strength. Recent natural catastrophes have heightened the need for groups to step up and give support, answers, and relief to individuals affected by such natural disasters. The Preservation Earth Project is a non-profit organization that provides support, education, and solutions to help society transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

A look back at Christoper Kenny’s life

Chris Kenny was born in Summit, New Jersey, on May 4, 1961. He was one of twelve children. In 1980, he received a B.A. in economics and finance from Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina. He also attended New York University, earning a commercial real estate management degree from the Schack Institute. Since 2018, he has served as the head of Strategy and E-trading at Hartfield, Titus, and Donnelly. Kenny started his career in the U.S. In 1985. He worked as a Treasury Bond Broker. He formerly worked at Bonds.com as the director of fixed income sales and technological development. His academic background is in business and finance. Chris is passionate about developing and promoting renewable energy, mainly when it is used to assist people in need. The potential to aid those in urgent demand as a result of a human-caused environmental or natural disaster is not just a philanthropic act but also a once-in-a-lifetime educational opportunity.

He used solar power on mobile platforms as a backup power source for emergencies, water purification, and water pumping.

His academic credentials are in business and finance. Chris is passionate about developing and promoting renewable energy, mainly when it is used to assist people in need. The potential to aid those in urgent need as a result of a human-caused environmental or natural disaster is not just a philanthropic act but also a once-in-a-lifetime educational opportunity. He has over 38 years of experience in finance as a salesperson, broker, trader, and investor.

Making clean water available to everyone

In 2012, Kenny founded The Preservation Earth Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It provides assistance, education, and alternative energy solutions to help society shift to renewable energy. It was involved and aided Haiti several times after the 2010 earthquake, providing portable solar electricity for water purification and medical facilities. In 2020, the business devised a solution for the Navajos’ contaminated water source. They collaborated with engineers and local officials to build, produce, and install a solar-powered water filtration system for the Navajo people of Tsaile, New Mexico. Other activities have included providing portable solar power to the “Cajun Navy” for rescue and clean-up in areas devastated by the 2015-2021 hurricane season in Louisiana.

The project designed, delivered, and installed a solar-powered filtration system that will provide clean drinking water to the local Navajo community 365 days a year for many years to come. Several more initiatives are in the works to provide safe drinking water to Native American communities on the Navajo Reservation.

President’s letters of gratitude

President Jimmy Carter sent Chris two heartfelt letters encouraging him to continue his charitable work. He suggested calling Habitat for Humanity and asking if they were interested in collaborating on a few projects. He and Kenny both helped out at the charity.