Nearly everyone has been involved in a car accident at some point if they drive enough. This can be a jarring experience and leave you wondering what you should do. Laminate a list of things that you should do and put it in the glovebox. The list can act as a guide if you are too shaken up to focus on what should be done. Teenagers should have this list as you might already know what to do. The stress of this situation is quite high so you could forget things quite easily. The following are tips for what you need to do right after a car accident.
Take Photos And Videos Of Scene And Other Driver
You are going to want to take videos and photos of the scene to make sure you don’t inadvertanly commit a crime. Do this before the cars are moved but get into a safe position before doing any of this. The last thing you want is to be hit by a distracted driver that is staring at the police or the crash in general. The behavior of the other driver can be very important as someone obviously intoxicated should not be driving. Your attorney is going to be very happy you have all of this information. Hostile drivers after an accident usually do not look great when it comes time for a case to go to court.
Don’t Admit Fault, Allow The Officer To Do Their Investigation
There can be a desire to just admit fault as you might have felt you were distracted. Allow the officer that responds to the scene to make a decision of who is at fault. The same goes for when you have to contact the insurance company of the other driver. Only provide the details that they would find on an accident report. Other details might lead them to refuse to pay out a settlement as insurance companies are notorious for trying to blame the driver that was obviously not at fault. There is a chance you didn’t see the other driver due to them speeding which can be seen via the skid marks.
Contact An Attorney
Contacting a car accident lawyer in Fayetteville or your local area is essential. The last thing you want is to have to personally cover the costs of medical care and your car repairs. You need to look for an experienced attorney that has a good track record when it comes to taking cases to trial. Insurance companies understand which attorneys will settle regardless and could give them a lower settlement offer initially. Take a look at the fee structure for each attorney as some only charge you if they accept your case and you win. Others will take your case on regardless but will charge you their fees even if you lose.
Getting into a car accident happens but this does not make it a great experience. Knowing what to do right after an accident can help protect you in the court of law. Make sure that you protect yourself and your assets through this process.
