If you’ve been involved in a car accident, your priority should be protecting your rights. Although chaos and confusion make everyone involved in a crash unsure of what things to do, it’s important to remain calm and plan for your next actions properly because a single wrong move can make your car accident experience a traumatic one.
Action Steps After The Incident
Being proactive after an incident is important to prevent further casualties. If you’ve been involved in a car accident, below are the immediate steps you should take:
1. Call For Help
If you or anyone involved in the collision has been injured, then it’s crucial to call 911 and seek assistance. Whether the car accident injuries are minor or major, be sure to contact the emergency services for immediate treatment.
In case no injuries are instantly apparent, there’s no need to call for emergency services, but you should call the police authorities assigned in the area to document what happened. Having them on the scene to make a police report may help you prove the truth of the matter in an insurance claims process or a lawsuit in court.
2. Contact An Experienced Lawyer
In the event you’ve been injured in an accident caused by the other driver’s negligence, you should immediately consult a personal injury attorney for legal assistance. As per georgiatrialfirm.com experts, by calling them right away, you’ll get valuable advice for the next steps to do to protect your rights and interests.
This is especially true if you’re planning to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver, so you can obtain fair compensation for all your losses, including medical bills, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, and many more.
However, if upon the investigation, the police authorities have charged you with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) causing the car accident, then you should contact and hire a DUI lawyer who can defend your rights and fight for your freedom in court. They can examine the facts of your case and come up with a strong defense strategy to increase your chances of getting a judgment in your favor.
3. Collect Information And Documentary Evidence
The next step you should take right after a car accident is the collection of essential information and other documentary proofs. When it comes to car collision cases, having the proper documents is crucial for determining who’s at fault for what happened.
Thus, whether you’re filing a personal injury lawsuit for your injuries or the other party has accused you of an offense causing the accident, you should gather all the necessary information, including written records, for the protection of your rights and interests. Remember, proper documentation is essential because it can help you have a clear recollection of how and what happened in the accident.
The following are the details you should collect from the accident scene:
- Full name and contact information of the driver/s involved
- Insurance company and policy number of the driver/s involved
- Driver’s license and license plate number of the driver/s involved
- Type, color, and model of all the vehicles involved
- Specific location of the accident
In addition to these, you should also obtain the following:
- Photos of the accident scene
- Photos of the vehicle damage
- Photos of the injuries
- Names and contact information of witnesses
- Other detailed notes, including the moments before and after the accident
4. Don’t Say Anything About The Accident
Whether you’re an injured victim or the one accused to be at fault for the car collision, you mustn’t say anything to others, including admitting fault for what happened. While it’s a common response for anyone involved to apologize, you should never do this to protect your rights and interests.
In most legal situations, anything you say can be used as evidence against you. Thus, to avoid problems with your case, it’s best if you remain silent when asked about the accident. You should only answer questions about contact information and the like. But when it comes to questions involving liability, let your lawyer handle this matter instead. By doing this, you can avoid making your situation worse.
Bottom Line
No matter how minor or serious the car accident, it’s important you take immediate steps after the happening. While the collision can leave you stressed out, following these things along with hiring a good lawyer can help you safeguard your rights from the get-go.
Whether you’re the victim or the adverse party, this information can guide you throughout the legal process. As a result, you’ll be able to save yourself from unnecessary worries.