When you’re involved in a collision, one of the first things you need to do is assess the situation before calling 911. As someone who may not speak English fluently or have a good grasp of the language, it can be hard to get your point across to others at the scene who may not speak Spanish or whatever other language you may feel comfortable using.
This is frustrating for victims, especially when they’re trying to get help at the scene. However, there are a few things you can do to make things easier when you find yourself in this kind of situation. Here are three tips for handling your traffic crash when you’re not a native English speaker.
- Learn some basic English phrases
It is helpful if you know some basic English phrases even if you can’t speak fluently. Simple phrases like, “I’m hurt,” or “call 911” could help people understand that you need support. If you call 911, use a simple phrase like, “I need an interpreter, I speak Spanish,” to tell them that you need an interpreter on the line to tell them what has happened.
- Use your phone to translate
At the scene, you may not have others around you who can understand you. This is when using your phone to translate is a major help. Whether you type into the translator or use a speech translation tool, you should be able to get your point across until help arrives.
- Get legal support in your language
Finally, if you will need to make a personal injury claim or to seek additional legal support once you’re recovering, make sure you work with a firm that has Spanish speakers. Bilingual attorneys and professionals will understand you better and be able to explain your rights and responsibilities in your own language.
Get help to handle your case when you don’t speak English
These are three tips for handling your car accident when you don’t speak the local language. With technology and a few basic phrases, you should be able to get through this emergency and get the assistance that you need.
