You take your personal safety seriously. You make it a habit of being aware of what is going on around you—especially when you are on the road. You drive in a way that is safe, courteous, and considerate of the intentions and actions of other drivers. The safety of your passengers and other drivers is uppermost in your mind while you are on the highway.
Unfortunately, not every has the same attitude toward road safety. Some drivers operate their vehicles in an unsafe and haphazard way. And if you have been injured in an accident that was caused by such a person, you should know your legal rights and options.
What To Do After A Car Crash
A car crash is a sudden and violent event. The impact of the crash will throw you into a state of shock and confusion. Once you have recovered your senses, you should do the following:
1. Check To See That Everyone Is Okay
You should first check yourself. If you feel no obvious pain, you should rub your hands over your body to check for blood. Some injuries leave the body numb for the first few minutes, so you should ensure that you are not bleeding out anywhere. You should then check the status of everyone else in the car.
2. Call Emergency Services
You must then call 911. They will send police, ambulance, and fire rescue to your location. You should make this call even if you believe it has already been made by the other driver or by people who have witnessed the accident.
3. Exchange Information
If you are relatively unharmed, you should check to see if the people in the other car are alright. While you are awaiting the arrival of emergency services you should exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver.
4. Photograph The Damage
You should also photograph the damage done to your vehicle with your mobile phone. You want to get close-up shots of the destruction. You should also take pictures that show the entire scene of the accident.
5. Do Not Admit Fault
You should not admit fault for the accident. You will not have the whole story on what happened until there has been an investigation. You should not make any assumptions about the role you may have played in the accident. However, if you know for certain that you broke no traffic rules and the other driver did, then you should report the facts as you understand them to the police. You need not divulge at that moment any future intention to take legal action.
6. Get Yourself Examined
Even if you feel good, you should have yourself examined by a physician. You may have injuries that you cannot see or feel. A qualified physician will be able to use training and technology to detect any internal injuries.
7. Contact Your Insurance Company
You will need to report the accident to your insurance company. Before you do so, you should contact a car accident personal injury lawyer. They will advise you of your legal rights as a policy holder. And you want to be clear about them before you speak to a claims adjustor.
Why You Need An Attorney
If the accident owed clearly to the recklessness of the other driver, their insurance company may offer you a low-dollar settlement. This is the general practice of insurance companies. Their goal is to keep to a minimum the amount of money they need to pay out. They believe that you will take their initial offer and not pursue the matter any further. However, you should make no commitment or sign any document until you have consulted with a car accident personal injury lawyer.
If your injuries were minimal and the offer made by the insurance company covers your expenses and losses, then it may be a good idea to take the money. However, if you were severely injured, then you may need to demand a much larger sum.
The Consequences Of A Car Crash
A car accident can bring great tumult and confusion to your life. If you were severely injured in the crash, you may have to spend months in the hospital. You may have to undergo a range of medical operations and procedures to make you well again. Your bills and expenses will pile up while you are on your back and unable to work. The resulting stress and strain on you and your family may become overwhelming.
You should not have to deal with such consequences on your own, especially when you were not the cause of them. An auto injury lawyer can help you get the compensation and justice you deserve.
What Your Auto Injury Lawyer Will Do
Reckless drivers should be made to pay for the havoc they cause. Car injury law firms and West Coast Trial Lawyers are dedicated to helping people like you get fair compensation for an accident in which the other driver was at fault. Car injury law firms are staffed by lawyers who have extensive expertise and experience in this area of law, and they will pursue your case effectively and aggressively.
Your lawyer will go beyond the police report. They bring in independent professional investigators to review and re-evaluate evidence from the car accident. Witnesses who were overlooked by police will be interviewed. And if any of them captured the entire accident on their cell phone, this evidence will be secured by your lawyer and used against the respondent.
Your lawyer will also introduce statements and evidence from accident reconstruction and medical experts. These professionals will be able to explain how the accident happened and the affect it has had on your health and ability to earn a livelihood.
Your lawyer may be able to present enough evidence for the respondent to offer a decent settlement. However, if the case must go before a jury West Coast Trial Lawyers you hired will be ready. They will get you the money you need to put your life back together.
