If you have been involved in a car crash, it’s important to take certain steps to protect your well-being after the accident. Your well-being and safety should be one of the first things on your mind to help guide you in handling the situation rationally. Use these useful tips to protect yourself after being in a car accident.
Get To Know Your Rights
The first thing you might want to do after being in any type of accident is call 911 (if someone was injured), but the next thing you’ll need to do is contact an attorney. Most states have referral services, where they can put you in touch with attorneys who specialize in car accidents. They will be able to let you know if the other party is at fault, and what your legal rights are depending on your state’s laws. Experienced law professionals at Holliday Karatinos Law Firm advise that you contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Time is of the essence here, since they’ll need time to research your case in order to give you the best advice possible. Also, make sure that when they contact you, it’s from a number that can be found on their website or business card.
Also, along with your rights comes your responsibility. It is advised that one should not get out of their vehicle following an accident, but rather they should wait for law enforcement officials or other legal authorities to arrive at the scene before getting out of their car.
Uphold and Protect Your Rights
One of the most common mistakes people make after getting into an accident is failing to protect their legal rights by letting the responsible party know that they plan on hiring an attorney or seeking legal assistance regarding the accident. It can be easy to make this mistake if you let emotions run high or let panic take over. Stay calm and get the situation under control by letting the erring party know the legal steps you may take. It places responsibility for damages where it belongs – on the insurance companies for drivers – and ensures that each party has clear knowledge of the other’s claims and insurance policies, and is in a position to make sure that the legal rights of the concerned parties are protected.
Get Medical Assistance
It is important for you to get an immediate medical examination or treatment when it comes to what one should do after getting involved in a vehicle accident. After any type of accident, there could be health problems that arise. However, when they do show up later on, it can be hard to prove them in court if there wasn’t documentation by a doctor immediately after the incident occurred. Also, you will likely need proof of these injuries for any personal injury lawsuit. Medical records and documentation will become handy, especially if you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence. It will strengthen your position in seeking compensation from their insurance company or from a civil lawsuit against the person at fault.
Exchange Information
If you are hit by another vehicle on the road, it may be best to exchange information with that driver before moving your vehicle or letting anyone else move it. Be sure to take pictures of any visible damage, whether on the other vehicle or yours, as well as pictures of where both vehicles are positioned after an accident. This can help you later if there is disagreement about how an accident occurred or who was at fault. If possible, do not leave the scene without exchanging insurance information and making notes of where they were taking their car for repairs.
Document Expenses Related to the Accident
Make sure you take note of all expenses resulting from your vehicle’s damage and/or medical needs following an accident. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible so they can help pay for those costs. When filing a claim with your auto insurance company, make sure that you only admit liability if you are absolutely certain about who caused the accident. Otherwise, you may end up having to cover damages yourself.
Be Patient with the Legal Process
The process of filing a suit is sometimes long and drawn out, but most people don’t realize this until they’ve already signed on the dotted line after their accident. If someone else was responsible for your injuries or that of a loved one, it might be tempting to rush through things so that you can get back to feeling better. However, if done incorrectly, this could actually leave you in a worse situation than before which would ultimately defeat the purpose of filing in the first place.
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident, make sure you seek out the legal advice of an expert as soon as possible and be sure to follow any suggested medical treatment after the fact. Also, make sure to take care of yourself both physically and emotionally. Taking care of your well-being will ensure that everything works out in your favor!