Defend Your Rights: What to Do Following a Vehicle Accident
Generally speaking, you should report your accident to the police by calling. An official police report will be written by the responding officer.
Take photos of the sight if you can. This will be crucial proof in your lawsuit. If there are witnesses, make an effort to get in touch with them. Medical care is essential.
1. Make a police report.
It is advisable to contact the police if you are in an automobile accident. Not only is this required to adhere to state law, but the official police record can be a vital piece of evidence in any subsequent legal procedures.
Because they are skilled in evaluating incident scenes, police officers can offer an unbiased viewpoint that may be challenging to get from drivers who are upset or emotionally charged after an accident. In addition, the police can reroute traffic to avoid more collisions and injuries. They can also collect vital evidence at the site, including witness testimonies, accident diagrams, and photos of the collision, that you might not be able to obtain later.
Give the officer simply the information they ask for when speaking with the police on the spot. Anything you say could wind up in your accident report and be used against you in the event that you are found to be at fault in court or during the insurance claim procedure.
2. Seek medical care.
Experiencing a car accident is among the most stressful things that can happen to someone. As a result, a lot of people disregard pain signals, think they are okay after a crash and neglect to take the appropriate action. It can be very risky to do this.
Seek immediate medical assistance. This is crucial for your health as well as to ensure that you meet insurance requirements and get checked for injuries. Certain insurance policies have a time limit within which you have to get medical attention following a collision for personal injury protection (PIP) benefits to be granted.
Visit an urgent care centre or emergency department instead of a clinic or private physician if you need medical attention. These facilities' medical staff has extensive experience treating injuries sustained in auto accidents and preparing thorough medical records that can be used as evidence that the collision was the reason for your injury. The medical records you submit are essential to your final damages claim.
3. Take pictures.
Keeping records of a car collision is essential for legal purposes. Using your smartphone to snap images is a terrific way to complete the task swiftly and effortlessly.
Snap close-ups and broader views of the scene, and make sure to snap multiple images from various perspectives. Make sure there is no glare or shadow in the pictures, and they should also be clear. Skid marks and debris are examples of significant elements that can be lost or faded in the aftermath of an accident; these details can be preserved by taking pictures very soon.
Taking images of the cars involved in the crash, along with their interiors and license plates, is a smart idea. Taking pictures of any evident injuries accident victims may have incurred is also beneficial. Seek the help of a witness or other person to snap your images if it's safe to do so, especially if you're feeling queasy, lightheaded, or sick at the accident scene. This will stop you from unnecessarily endangering other people or yourself.
4. Speak with an attorney.
Getting in touch with an attorney following a car accident is usually a good idea. An experienced attorney will have the means to assess your damage and decide if you have a case. They are also adept at carrying out investigations to put the pieces of evidence together, and they will know what to look for in experts in accident reconstruction, surveillance film, etc.
Take pictures of the damage to both vehicles and record any additional identifying information if you are able to move about the scene safely. If you can see it, this also includes the other driver's plate number.
Insurance agents that attempt to minimise your injuries or coerce you into taking a lesser payout than you are due will be stopped by an attorney. They are also adept negotiators who can get you the money you are due. They can represent you in court and file a lawsuit if needed.
