If you’ve never been involved in a car accident and you’re wondering why you should read this article, just hang on. Well, accidents may occur to anyone as long they travel. But, fortunately, information is power, and you can use this information to benefit not just yourself, but also the other parties who might be involved in an accident scene.
What's important to know is what you should do the moment an accident occurs. Many car accident cases fail because of tampering with the evidence that should have been used in the court proceedings. In a nutshell, there are things that you should and shouldn’t do. It's said that ignorance is no defense.
Before you hire a lawyer—such as personal injury attorney Fort Worth, TX, if you live within the area—to pursue your compensation claim, you need to be aware of the following dos and don’ts concerning car accidents:
Dos
1. Take Photographs of the Scene
In case you get involved in a car accident and you can move, you should take as many photographs of the scene of the accident as possible, as well as the cars that got involved. If you have a smartphone, that's enough to capture the moments of the scene. Go ahead and photograph the inside and the outside of the cars, together with any other tangible property that has been damaged. Follow the skid marks on the roadway, debris, the final rest locations of the vehicles, and any other indicator of the accident. The driver on the wrong may try to tamper with the scene, like moving their car, so be quick to take your photos.
2. Call Law Enforcers
You should contact the police so that they can come and investigate the accident, and have a documented record of the accident. Refuse any persuasion by the other individual not to call the police and sort the issue between the two of you. That individual may act cooperative at the moment, but after leaving there, and you try following up for compensation or having your car being fixed, things may change.
It has been reported that some individuals will refute that an accident occurred or say that you’re the one who was at fault. Even if you’ll agree to sort the matter later after the law enforcers have investigated the accident, at least, you're assured of the case being documented and who was wrong.
3. Contact a Lawyer Immediately
This is important as an attorney can advise you on important steps to take. Ensure that you only seek the help of a reputable personal injury lawyer. Whatever advice you’re given is important in making your process easier and protecting a potential injury claim, in case you end up suffering injuries.
Don’ts
1. Speak to an Attorney Before Engaging an Insurance Company
You might receive offers to have compensation from an insurance company. Don’t agree to the plan; rather, consult an attorney first. In some cases, the amount of money that you might receive from an insurance company may be way below than the level of injury you’ve suffered. It’s been reported that some car accident victims who’ve been tricked by an insurance company end up spending way above what they’ve received from the insurance company, and they’ve already let go of the driver who hit them.
During such a time, there’s no way an attorney can help you because the compensation part is already settled, although a higher compensation was merited.
2. Keep the Accident Out of Social Media
Note that the lawyers of your accused may use whatever information you post on social media. For instance, you might write, “Just had a car accident, but I’m not injured. Thank God I’m fine.” This post may be used to show a judge that you’re trying to acquire free money from your accused despite not suffering any harm. So, if you were to receive any compensation for bodily injury, such a post on social media may jeopardize the process.
Moreover, some signs of internal body injury may manifest a day or a couple of days later. Yet, when you’re making the post, you’re feeling completely fine.
Wrapping Up
Car accident cases may be complicated, especially if you don’t know the legal part of the process. That's why this article gives you very critical information that can save you when you find yourself in such a situation. The bottom line is that you should take enough photos of the scene, the cars involved in the collision, and any visible body injury, as well as contact a personal accident attorney so that they can help you preserve the authenticity of a potential injury claim. On the other hand, keep the accident out of your social media, and let a personal injury lawyer be the one to talk to your insurance company and that of the other driver. This ensures that you compile a solid compensation claim.
