The consequences of a car accident can be pretty chaotic and devastating. As they occur very quickly, it becomes almost impossible to process what or how it happened. However, once you get hold of your senses, make sure to check if you are alright or not.
If you are in excellent health, make sure to get out of your vehicle and start thinking about legal steps right away. We have prepared a guide for you in this aspect to offer you some legal assistance in this regard.
Be sure to keep reading till the end to know more!
Car Accident – A Step-By-Step Guide To Handle The Legal Issues Successfully
Taking care of the legal aspects of a car accident situation can be pretty tricky. Hence, if you aren’t quick-witted, you may end up being on the wrong side of the law. Hopefully, the following steps will be beneficial for you in this aspect.
Step – 1: Get Medical Attention
Once you get out of your car, we’d ask you to check if you have suffered an injury or not. Even if you have a concussion, we will ask you to consult with a doctor as soon as possible.
This way, you can present a case of being a victim in your plea and successfully turn the results on to your side (see Flynn & Associates).
Step – 2: Don’t Leave The Scene
Call the ambulance from where you were, and don’t leave the scene at all until it’s plausible to do so. If you depart from the location, especially in a case where people have sustained injuries, you may be presented with criminal penalties.
Even if you are in a hurry, we would ask you to leave only after the police have arrived and permitted you to leave.
Step – 3: Gain Information
After you are done with your check-up, make sure to start acquiring as much information as possible. It may include the name of the driver, their birthdate, phone number, license number, details about the insurance company, etc.
Do not forget to collect the name and additional information about the people who were present during the scenario.
Step – 4: Call The Police
If you are otherwise alright, make sure to be the first one to call the police. Be sure to let them know if a critical injury or property damage has occurred during the incident. Also, if you can, we would ask you to make them aware of your condition descriptively.
Finally, ask them to file a police report and include information on the names and the badges of the responding officers. Keep an eye on when the police are arriving on the scene as well!
Step – 5: Move The Vehicles Quickly
If the accident is somewhat minor with little to no injury, we’d ask you to move the vehicles from the street quickly. This way, you can prevent a potential traffic jam and assist the first responders while they are trying to reach the scene.
Step – 6: Garner The Required Evidence
Only identifying on-site witnesses will not be enough. Aside from this, we will also ask you to try acquiring as many pieces of evidence as possible. Note details regarding –
- General description of the cars and the riders
- The model and year of production of the car
- Its license plate number
In addition to this, you will need to take several pictures of the scene too. This way, you will have some more physical evidence of the accident.
Step – 7: Don’t Talk Too Much
Regardless of what you believe, make sure to be very careful about what you’re saying on the scene of the accident. Make sure not to admit fault to the other person or yourself. Even if you think that you’re at fault, the facts might suggest otherwise.
Nonetheless, if you are admitting to the crime on the spot, the exculpatory evidence will not matter anymore. Just make sure not to lie or say anything you’re not supposed to say.
Step – 8: Write What Happened
If you find a quiet moment, try writing every information regarding the incident. It may include:
- The location, date, and time of the accident
- The direction you were going towards
- How the other driver was driving their car
- The activities you were doing during the moment of impact
This way, if the case goes to court, you will be able to present your story as efficiently as possible. Also, it might help you and the legal practitioner prove your honesty and the legal evidence altogether.
Step – 9: Inform Your Car Insurance Company
Make sure to let your car insurance company know about the incident within the first hour after the mishap happened. You may also try talking with your insurance agent, answering their questions, and reporting the incident.
Some insurance organizations tend to provide a time limit of 72 hours. If you let them know about the incident after that duration, they might disregard your request altogether.
Step – 10: Keep Track Of Property Damage Valuation
Make sure to keep track of the amount of money you’re spending due to treatment following an accident. Add the property damage valuation on the same as well. If a disagreement occurs during the procedure, make sure to acquire a third-party estimate from a car-repair specialist.
It will help you get the right amount of money from the person responsible for the accident once you win your case.
Wrapping It Up!
The whole situation following a car incident tends to be pretty messy. However, you will need to be as quick as possible in your approach if you want to avoid any liability issues. Make sure to follow our guide as closely as possible to avoid making any rash decisions.
Anyway, if you have any queries regarding the article, be sure to let us know about it in the comment section below. We will try our best to clear out any confusions you might have.
