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Protecting Your Rights Starts at the Scene of the Crash
No one gets into a motor vehicle expecting to be involved in a collision. Unfortunately, this is a very frequent occurrence – as evidenced by car accidents being the most common form of personal injury cases. If you find yourself in such a situation, it’s important to know what to do after a car accident to protect your legal rights.
In fact, this knowledge could literally affect the trajectory of the rest of your life – particularly if you suffered serious injuries or lost a loved one. Most people start asking questions regarding their rights at the hospital, but the reality is that even your actions at the accident scene can impact your legal rights. That’s why there are some basic steps you should understand.
Check on Everyone While Prioritizing Safety
The first thing you should do after involvement in a car accident is to ensure your own safety and the safety of those around you. Move to a safe location if possible. In most instances, getting off the road is critical. You should also check to see if anyone else is injured. If someone suffered injuries during the collision, contacting emergency services is a wise decision.
In fact, this is a requirement in some states. For instance, Florida requires motorists to contact authorities in accidents where injuries or death occurred – or even if there’s at least $500 in property damage. It’s critical to report even minor injuries and seek medical help. Failure to do so could result in lost evidence and claims that negligent parties didn’t cause your injuries.
Contact Law Enforcement
Due to state law and potential legal issues, contacting police after a motor vehicle crash is important when injuries occur. However, that might not be the only time you could benefit from having officers on the scene. Even in minor accidents, having a police report can prove invaluable when you’re dealing with insurers or filing a lawsuit.
When speaking with police, make sure you cooperate and provide factual details. However, you should never admit any level of fault or speculate about liability. Officers need to create reports based on the facts – and simply misspeaking for a moment could negatively sway the cop’s opinion of what transpired during the accident.
Keep a level head and stick to the facts.
Gather Evidence and Information
When they’re able to, accident victims should document as much about the accident scene as possible. Obviously, there may be a situation where simply not moving and waiting for help is the only option. However, any victims who can safely do so should take photographs, record witness information, and write detailed notes regarding what happened while the memory is still fresh.
It’s also important to exchange information with the other driver. Florida law requires motorists to provide certain details to the other driver when a collision occurs. Necessary credentials include the driver’s name, address, driver’s license number, vehicle registration information, and insurance information. If the other driver refuses, make sure to get their tag number.
Seek Medical Attention
While it’s already been briefly mentioned, the importance of seeking medical attention cannot be overstated. It might be the most important thing you can do after a car accident to protect your legal rights. Doing so could also save your life. After all, there are many serious injuries that don’t showcase significant symptoms until it’s too late. You don’t want to overlook this possibility.
In the legal sense, seeking medical attention can dictate how your case moves forward. To secure damages in a personal injury lawsuit, you’ll need to show that the liable party’s actions directly caused you harm. Without documentation from a medical professional, how could you possibly prove the accident led to injuries, pain, emotional distress, and other damages?
It’s also imperative that you do not wait to take this step. Imagine someone who doesn’t visit the doctor for two days after a collision – but when they do, it’s discovered that they suffered a concussion. Unfortunately, insurers and the at-fault driver could try to claim that this injury occurred at some other point and not during the crash. Don’t make this mistake.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Even if you believe the other driver was clearly at fault, it’s still important to let your own insurance company know what happened. This can prove critical if the other driver’s insurer refuses to adequately compensate you or claims that their policyholder was not at fault. In some cases, your insurance company will be able to assist you.
However, always keep in mind that insurance adjusters are not there to be your friend. They’re employed with the sole purpose of creating profit for their employer. If it turns out that they may be on the hook for money, you better believe they’ll try their best to avoid paying anything. This is why it’s advisable to speak with a legal professional before contacting any insurer.
Contact an Attorney ASAP
It’s difficult to rank the most important things you should do after a car accident. After all, everyone’s circumstances are different – so what may be important in one case may be less so in another. However, contacting a legal professional is always a critical step. In fact, it’s typically one of the first actions you should take after involvement in a collision.
A personal injury lawyer understands the legal procedures involved in these cases. They know what judges and juries will look for, and they’ve typically dealt with uncooperative insurance companies in the past. With an attorney on your side, you can focus on healing instead of worrying about what to do after a car accident to protect your legal rights.
At Idrizi Law Group, our dedicated team of legal professionals is here to assist when you need it the most. Contact us at 707-926-4924 for your free 15-minute phone consultation.
