If you have just been the victim of an accident, it’s important that you comply with the Traffic Code rules (turning on the emergency lights, putting on a safety vest, putting up warning triangles). If injuries are involved, you should call the emergency services (telephone 112) as soon as possible and they will tell you what you need to do.

The next step you must take is:

· Check if there are any witnesses and if there are, you should ask for their name, surname and telephone number. If possible, you should also ask for their address and identification number. Often the guilty party will try to avoid blame by lying so a witness is a great help.

· Take photos at the time of the accident of everything that may have been damaged. The more common damages are the bodywork of the vehicle, but objects within the vehicle may also be damaged such as mobiles, glasses, etc.

· Complete an accident report which includes the details of the accident, or call the police so that they do the report. If there are injuries involved, we recommend that you call the police so that every detail is covered. Let the police know if you believe the driver had been drinking or using drugs so that they carry out an alcohol and/or drugs test. If you decide to fill in the report, you must pay particular attention to completing it correctly and without leaving any gaps. In the report you should also draw a sketch of the accident.

· Medical documentation is very important. You should ask for medical reports at each place you’re treated (the emergency room, orthopaedic surgeon, rehabilitation). Our specialist road traffic accident lawyers need these reports in order to calculate the compensation you’re owed.

If the accident has happened and you have not yet taken any of the aforementioned steps, don’t worry. It’s common for the trauma of the accident to mean some things get overlooked.

Contact us

Call our lawyers in Spain and we’ll help you resolve the situation. If you’re in Barcelona, our lawyers can visit your home if you’re unable to get around due to the accident.

Also, if you need a doctor, our lawyers will help you find one near your home to take care of your rehabilitation, whether you’re in Barcelona, Madrid or any other province.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not definitive. For up-to-date information which is relevant to your case, please contact our lawyers.