If you own a vehicle, you are probably aware of the high stakes of risking an accident every day. You might have witnessed several car crashes, truck accidents, or multi-vehicle collisions on your way to or from work, or even other times during your daily commute. With car crashes happening all the time, have you ever given a thought about what you would do if you were to get involved in one yourself? For most people, the answer is generally, no. It is natural for us to feel pity for the damage others bear in similar situations but rarely do you think of putting yourself in their shoes. Negligence to consider how you would handle a vehicle accident brings up a list of circumstances to consider to protect yourself in the even of an auto accident so that you know how to act and don’t end up suffering unneeded financial, or even emotional damage.Â
You Can Claim Your Loss!Â
When you’re involved in an accident, it is easy to become emotional–angry, scared, stressed, etc. Because of this, it is important to know what you should do after a car accident before you ever get into one. The first, and most important step is to get in touch with a legal representative immediately. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer will help you navigate the complications involved in auto accidents and they will help you file a personal injury claim for your loss.Â
Any injury or damage suffered by you because of another person’s negligence, ignorance, or fault is considered to be a case of personal injury. These cases hold the other person guilty for all your damage and make them compensate for those damages as well. Any income or wage loss due to work off can be claimed too.Â
How does Evidence help?Â
You may think that you can ask the other party for your visible damage and loss; however, it is not that easy to seek compensation, as many people are reluctant to admit fault, even when the evidence is overwhelming. The situation becomes more complicated when two or more parties are involved and the financial stakes are high, as nobody wants to incur unexpected costs or have their driving record damaged. Many times it becomes difficult to determine who is at fault in the first place. When all parties cannot agree on who is at fault, this leads to disputes, and opens the door for other people to incriminate you falsely.Â
Imagine the other party being at fault for crashing into your vehicle, but the other person hires a lawyer and tries to claim his or her losses from you? You might not be able to save yourself from their allegations on your own, so by hiring a lawyer with expertise in personal injury situations, you can minimize the chances of the situation coming back on you. It is always best to hire a qualified legal professional who can handle your case and deal with the prosecuting party.Â
Your lawyer’s knowledge and experience will help you identify your legal rights and enable you to claim all of your damages. You can be assured of getting compensated for otherwise neglected damages such as punitive damage and emotional damage like pain, suffering, or mental distress.Â
Lawyers understand how crucial it is to retrieve and preserve evidence in situations like these in order to help you receive the compensation you’re entitled to. In case you’ve suffered serious damage or loss, the other person will obviously try and make every attempt to get him or herself off the hook without paying any money or by paying a minimal amount instead. The other person’s lawyer will go to great lengths to prove their client’s innocence and exempt them from any debt concerning your claim. In situations like these, it is evidence that plays a key role in fighting for your case. Your lawyer can present evidence in the courtroom in the appropriate manner to prove your innocence and establish the basis of your claim for damages.Â
Avoid Making This Mistake! Â
After your accident, your and/or the other party’s insurance carrier will undoubtedly reach out to you. They will ask you about the accident and may attempt to use the information you provide in order to nullify your insurance claim. There can be instances where you may not claim any immediate injuries after the accident. In such a case, the insurance company would have already recorded your statement, and there would be very slight chances left for you to claim any physical damage later.Â
For this reason, it is suggested to have any insurance providers asking questions connect with your attorney before getting in conversations with your insurer yourself. Your attorney can present evidence and medical records in the most effective way to claim your damage and can help you negotiate a deal in case your insurer offers a settlement. Â
Allocating Evidence & Its Source!Â
After you’re involved in an accident, do not let go of anything that seems like potential evidence. Feel free to take pictures and videos so you can record your vehicular and personal damages. If there are any witnesses on the road, talk to them and get their contact numbers for future reference. You should call for the police to file a police report in time as it will also help you claim your insurance.Â
Anything from medical records to site CCTV footage can qualify as evidence for your case. Lawyers familiar with representing car crash victims can easily help you retrieve pieces of evidence and present them in the court to help you prove your claim. Your lawyer can represent evidence either to prove your innocence or the other person’s negligence. He or she can do that by presenting the following in the court:
- Call Records
You can get access to the other person’s cell phone and look for any calling or texting traces during the same time when the accident took place. This will prove that they were distracted during the accident, and the court will ask them to compensate for your damage.Â
- Vehicle Reports
There’s a chance that the accident took place due to problems within your or the other person’s vehicle. In such a case, none of you are guilty, and you can directly claim the vehicle or specific part manufacturer for your damage.Â