Car Accident Lawyer
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Seven things to do immediately after being involved in a car accident
A car accident is a horrific, traumatic and terrifying incident, something we believe we will never experience. However, you should be prepared in case you are a victim of a car accident.
At our firm, we pride ourselves on providing personalized service to individuals commonly caught under extraordinary pressure. I am going to guide you through seven important steps to take in case you are involved in a car accident. These seven tips will help preserve your rights to the fullest extent possible so you can get the most value for your case:
1. Record the scene of the accident using your cell phone.
Cell phones have become commonplace in the world we live in today, and it is highly likely that you would have one at the time of your accident. However, not many people find it important to record events in these often confusing times.
What I tell people who come to me for consultations is whatever you do, the most important thing to do after a car accident is to start recording and/or taking photos. So what do you need to record?
- The damage to each and every one of the vehicles that participated in the accident;
- Any injuries you have and your passengers.
- Broken glass and most importantly skid marks. These two elements will be of great importance if you and your attorney later decide to retain the services of an accident reconstruction expert.
- Fault admissions. The thing to remember here is that, in most cases, people initially admit fault shortly after an accident. However, later on, they will completely deny what they previously stated. Recording them on video is therefore crucial if you later decide to sue for damages.
2. Take photos
In relation to the previous point, you should also take photographs of the accident scene, as well as damage to the vehicles involved. What you should especially do at this time is to take pictures of your injuries, for example, black eyes, cuts, bruises, etc. Wounds heal, and yours won’t seem as severe a week after the accident.
Therefore, it is absolutely important to record and retain as much evidence as possible to support your injuries from the outset. In a way, you are already beginning to build a strong case to better protect yourself and preserve your claim and potential lawsuit.
3. Call the police
You may think that your accident is minor and that it is not necessary to involve the police authorities, but most of the time you will be wrong. Whatever the severity of the damage, you need to make sure that the police come to the scene. Especially if you are not guilty.
Having the police generate an on-scene report where the other party’s fault is clearly established will be a crucial factor in helping you build your case. We’ve seen many situations where the injured party doesn’t call the police, and when they try to start negotiations, the at-fault party doesn’t take responsibility, opening the door to dispute and negatively impacting the value of the plaintiff’s case. .
4. Get information from the other party
Another important thing to do immediately after a car accident is to get the other party’s information. This includes the following;
• Their names
• Insurance information
• Telephone numbers
• Addresses
Many people will give you false information at accident scenes to avoid litigation. Therefore, it is important that you protect yourself:
• Take a photo of your license plate.
• Take a photo of your driver’s license.
• Photograph your insurance card.
• Capture an image of your face.
5. Gather information from witnesses
Immediately after an accident, you should also gather as much witness testimony as possible. Especially if they blame the accident on the other party.
If you can find people who will say that the other party was speeding, ran a stop sign, or was on their cell phone, it is very important that you make sure these statements are on record.
You also need to get the contact details of these people and make sure they give statements to the authorities.
We have seen situations where the injured party does not call the police after an accident, or someone is hit by a car and the other party flees. In cases like these, witness statements and observations are crucial in helping you build your case.
6. Seek medical treatment
This point is important, not only because accident injuries tend to be more severe than they initially appear, but also because the medical report you receive after seeking treatment will help strengthen your case in court.
If you think you are too busy to go to the doctor, or that your injuries are minor, you may end up putting your own life at risk.
It is also nearly impossible for people to win lawsuits when the extent of their injuries have not been recorded by medical experts. While an injured party may not initially be in noticeable pain, that party may have sustained a serious, life-threatening injury, which could later manifest itself as fatal because the injured party was unable to obtain proper medical treatment.
7. Hire a trusted lawyer
Insurance companies will try to minimize the amounts paid to victims. They do this by denying your claim or minimizing the extent of your injuries. Trying to talk to them of your own free will will, in most cases, get your claim denied.
We have seen many cases where injured parties attempt to handle their medical injury resolution issues on their own, sacrificing the value of their case by not having an attorney on their side.
That is why it is important that you obtain the services of a well-trained and qualified attorney, who will make sure that you get everything you can from your claim.
These seven tips are, without a doubt, what you need to do to protect yourself and get the maximum amount of money in the event of a car accident.