If you’re having a wonderful day and get yourself into a car accident, you will no longer be having a great day. That much is certain. But if you can keep your wits about you and remember a few things to do, everything will turn out as well as it can. From what to look for straight away to choosing a lawyer, or, more specifically, a car accident attorney, and to everything in between, having the wherewithal to act responsibly can keep a bad day from getting worse.
In the United States, 2.35 million people are injured every year in road accidents and over 37,000 people die. It is no small thing to be involved in an automobile incident. So, here are a few things to keep in mind should you ever find yourself involved in one.
First of all, it is always of the utmost importance that you stay at the scene. Fleeing the scene of an accident can get you in a heap of trouble right out of the gate.
Check on all of the people involved. Assuming you are uninjured, check around with those in your automobile and with those in any other vehicle involved in the accident. After you’ve checked to see how everyone is doing and that you are not in danger of oncoming traffic, call the police and emergency services.
If possible, exchange insurance information with those involved in the wreck and talk to any witnesses you can find. Start to put together other people’s stories and see how they relate to your own. This can be a very valuable thing to do since most people have their freshest memories of events right after they happen.
Talk to witnesses but also get as many pictures as you can of the accident. Pictures don’t change their stories over time. Getting good pictures can help you not only back up your story of the accident but also help you with your claim.
After you have done these things, make sure to give your insurance company a call. The more straightforward you are with your insurance company, the better the claim will go for you. If you lie about your involvement, that could come back and cause you a great deal of trouble. Always be thorough with your insurance company.
Beware of any offers you might receive. If you get approached by someone looking to make you an offer, chances are they are trying to get you to settle something you do not want to settle. Signing away your rights could be a real mistake.
At this point, choosing a lawyer might be the way to go. Choosing a lawyer to represent you through any insurance settlements or court cases will always save you the headaches you might get from taking on legalities that you are not an expert in.
Nobody wants to get involved in an accident, but many of us will. The more prepared you are, the better things will go for you.