Car accidents happen on the road every day. Most of them are minor and might result in something insignificant, like a hairline scratch on your car. But when a car accident is severe, it can leave you with personal injuries or significant damage to your vehicle.
Knowing how to respond and assert your rights is important if you ever get involved in a serious car accident. That way, you can protect your interests if you file a claim for damages. Here are the legal steps to take after a car accident.
What to Do After a Car Accident
Feeling a little jolted after a collision on the road is normal. But try to stay alert. The moves you make right after a car accident will define what happens next (and whether or not you’ll be fairly compensated for any damages). Here’s exactly what to do after a car accident, step by step:
Check for Any Injuries
Before anything else, assess your body to see if you’ve incurred any injuries. If you or anyone involved in the car accident is hurt, immediately seek medical attention by calling 911. Even accidents with minor impacts can cause injuries, so don’t take this step lightly.
Exchange Information with the Other Driver
If you’re sure that no one involved in the accident was hurt, you can go ahead and talk to the other driver. Your main goal is to exchange information. Get their name, address, contact number, insurance information, and license plates as well. This will come in handy for any claims and settlements later on.
When talking to the other driver, be careful not to apologize or say that the accident was your fault. Admitting guilt is one of the most common mistakes people make after a car accident. If you say the accident was because of your driving, this can be used against you later.
Collect Evidence of the Accident
If you want to file a case against the other driver, know that the burden of proof is on you. That means you’re obligated to show that the accident was their fault. So, gather as much evidence as you can at the site of the accident. Here are some ways to do that:
- Take pictures of any injuries or damage to the cars
- Ask witnesses for their contact details
- Contact the police to file a report
Seek Legal Counsel
At this point, it’s best to contact a car accident lawyer, such as Siamak Vaziri before doing anything else. This step is perhaps the most important one on this list. With an experienced attorney on your side, you’ll be able to assert your rights and protect your interests regarding this accident.
A lawyer can help you gather evidence about the accident, speak on your behalf if you’re injured or overwhelmed, and create the best strategy possible to get you the compensation you deserve. They’ll thoroughly investigate what happened, what it cost you, and how to prove that you should be compensated.
Talk to Your Insurance Company
Ask your lawyer how to go about talking to your insurance company. Most of the time, insurance companies don’t have your best interest at heart. So, seek legal advice on reporting the accident to your provider to put you in the best position to make a claim later on.
That said, always tell your insurance provider the truth. Provide them with facts without admitting guilt. If you blatantly lie to them, it could spell disaster for your case.
Work with Your Lawyer to Compute the Compensation You Deserve
Ask your attorney to do a valuation on the compensation you deserve. Damages from personal injuries, medical bills, and damage to your vehicle can increase your compensation.
Your lawyer can even help you prove how the accident has caused you mental anguish, loss of opportunity, emotional distress, and other issues that are difficult to put a price on to get you the best deal possible for your losses.
Getting your attorney to evaluate how much you should be compensated is important to know how much you stand to gain. That way, you’ll know if the other party is lowballing you if they offer a settlement.
Stay Alert After Getting Involved in a Car Accident
Whether it’s clear or not whose fault a car accident is, it’s smart to cover all your bases and do all the steps above. Gather evidence, file all reports needed, and take lots of photos for evidence.
Most importantly, hire a lawyer who can help you out every step of the way. The car accident attorneys at L.A.-based Adamson Ahdoot are experts at car accident claims. If you live in California, they’re exactly who you want to call if you want to file a motor accident case.
