If you’ve suffered some injuries after a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness, you have the right to seek and receive compensation for your accident-related losses. Most of the time the at-fault party will try to settle things with you and give you compensation with the help of their insurance company. But if that doesn’t work, your only other option left is to file a car accident lawsuit against the other driver.
Now here are the most important legal steps you must take after a car accident:
Table of Contents
1. Seek Medical Treatment
Your health and safety are of utmost importance following an accident. As such, it’s critical that you seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Once the paramedics arrive, make sure that all your injuries are treated and documented.
Even if you think you’re not hurt, it’s crucial that you must be checked out by any medical professional at the accident scene, or if possible, go to the nearest hospital. There are some types of injuries that don’t show any symptoms at first such as whiplash. Seeking medical treatment is also important as it helps document the injuries that you sustained because of the accident.
Be sure to follow your doctor’s treatment instructions and never miss any follow-up checkups so you can recover fast. If you’re unsure about what to do, websites such as https://www.raphaelsonlaw.com/ and others can provide information on how a lawyer can manage all correspondence and acquire the required paperwork, including your medical bills.
2. Call The Police
There are some cases of car accidents that have no witnesses, which often leads to all parties involved in the crash having different kinds of stories on how it happened. This is why it’s essential that you call the police and let them do an investigation. If you don’t contact the local authorities, you could lose the opportunity to receive full compensation, or worse, you may end up getting blamed for an accident that is not your fault.
So, if the crash is caused by another party, insist that you call the police. This is to ensure that all the parties involved will be forced to make a statement on how the accident occurred. If the at-fault driver doesn’t want to contact the police, insist that they must provide proof of admission and the details of how they caused the accident. Don’t forget to get their signature on paper and include important details such as the date, location, and time of the crash.
3. Document The Accident Scene
A car accident scene can be quite chaotic. There are onlookers, emergency services, police, etc. But if you can, you must take the time to document the scene of the crash by gathering important information such as the names and contact numbers of the persons involved, their driver’s license numbers, vehicle license plate numbers, and most importantly, their auto insurance information.
Don’t forget to collect statements from witnesses at the scene as well as their names and contact information. Photographs can also be used as key evidence not only of the damage but also in proving who’s at fault for the accident. Get pictures of the damage to the cars involved in the accident as well as the injuries of the people. These pictures can play a huge role once your personal injury claims go to court.
4. Don’t Admit Fault
You must never admit fault after a car accident. Most of the time, an accident victim usually apologizes to everyone involved in the crash, even though it was someone else’s fault.
There are even some drivers who quickly admit fault right at the scene. But after careful evaluation, it turns out that there were other factors that must be taken into account. It’s recommended that you be careful when speaking to the police and with other parties involved to avoid saying something that might put the blame on you for the accident. Any indication that you were at fault for the crash could have a huge impact on your chances of receiving compensation later on.
5. Talk To A Lawyer After a Car Accident
The aftermath of a car accident can be quite traumatic and confusing. But you have to know that you can always get help and guidance on what to do next. This is why you must consult a car accident attorney as soon as possible. Don’t admit fault and avoid accepting any settlement offers from the at-fault driver’s insurance company without talking to an attorney first.
Having an experienced legal expert on your side can help ensure that you get to receive the right amount of compensation you deserve on time.
Final Thoughts
Car accidents can cause devastating and debilitating injuries that may have a tremendous impact on your life forever. This is why you must take the right legal steps in preserving your rights to receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
