Why You Need A Lawyer After A Car Accident

If you are a driver on the road, be concerned. According to the latest statistics, one of every three people is being injured or killed in a car crash. Whether a driver is distracted with their cell phone, due to drugs or alcohol, or driving at a high rate of speed, these and other situations lead to accidents resulting in serious consequences for those involved. In most cases, whether you are a driver or passenger, you will suffer injuries that will lead to numerous medical expenses, lost wages from being unable to return to work for an extended period of time, and pain and suffering from your injuries. If you have been a victim in a car accident that was caused by another driver’s carelessness or negligence, here is what you should do, and why you need an truck accident lawyers working to protect your rights in these matters.

Don’t Leave the Accident Scene

When you are involved in a car accident, never leave the scene until it is suitable for you to do so. In most cases, this will be after first responders have arrived, checked on everyone’s injuries, and check others those are involved in the accident. If you are in an accident and make no attempt to stop and remain at the scene, police could potentially charge you with hit-and-run.

Help the Injured

Even if an accident seems minor, there may still be people injured. Therefore, always try to assess not only how seriously you are injured, but others as well. In doing so, you may be able to offer assistance until help arrives.

Call Police

If the auto accident has resulted in significant property damage, injuries, or deaths, always call 9-1-1 immediately to summon police and rescue personnel to the scene. Not only is this important to ensure everyone’s safety, but also it could also be pivotal should you decide to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. When police arrive at the scene, they will assess the situation and complete a report. In this report, they often make a preliminary judgement as to who caused the accident. Once this report is filed, your car accident personal injury lawyer can use this as a proof and their insurance company to negotiate a settlement.

Exchange Information

At any accident scene, you should always exchange information with other drivers and passengers, which should always include names, contact information, insurance information, and other pertinent information. However, while doing so, be careful not to say anything that leads others to believe you feel as if the accident was your fault.

Talk to Witnesses

In almost any car accident, there are numerous people who witness it and can provide important details about the events leading up to the accident. Just as with other drivers and passengers, try to obtain names, contact information, and relevant details witnesses have about the accident. Once you have this information, pass it on to your attorney. If you file a lawsuit, your Los Angeles accident attorney will probably interview the witnesses to gain additional information, and may also choose to have them appear in court to testify during the trial.

Photographic Evidence

When you are involved in a car accident, try to keep your wits about you long enough to pull out your smartphone and take photos and videos of the accident scene. If possible, take photos of the damage to your vehicle and others involved in the accident, injuries you sustained, property damage resulting from the accident, skid marks or other indicators of high speed or reckless driving, road conditions, and anything else that may help you prove the accident was not your fault. By having this evidence and giving it to your auto injury lawyer, you will have a much greater chance of winning your case.

Think Before You Speak

While it seems only natural to be polite and apologetic after a car accident, this is actually the wrong approach to take. While you should certainly be concerned about the health and safety of others, be careful to not sound as if you are apologizing for the accident. If you do so, you can be assured the other driver’s attorney and insurance company will use your words against you in an attempt to prove you were at fault for the accident. Rather than let this happen, let your accident attorney do the talking for you in these situations.

Seeking Compensation

Of all the reasons why you need a lawyer after being involved in a car accident, seeking compensation is without a doubt the most important. Whether you suffer extensive fractures, head injuries, lacerations, or slightly less serious injuries such as whiplash, you will still have significant medical bills to pay. Along with this, you will also probably be out of work for at least several weeks if not longer, which can put substantial financial pressure on you and your family. To ensure you receive the financial compensation you deserve, hire a car accident personal injury lawyer who has experience handling these cases, and who also has a track record of success getting clients fair and equitable compensation for their injuries.

Speaking with Insurance Companies

Along with getting the compensation you deserve, you also need a knowledgeable lawyer to handle any communication you may have with insurance companies. Since adjusters with these companies will set out to confuse you and trick you into admitting fault for the accident, have your lawyer handle all communications with insurance companies. Also, since an insurance company may also try to get you to accept a quick settlement, never do so until you have discussed it with your attorney.

Stay Off Social Media

Once you have hired a car accident personal injury lawyer to handle your case, they will likely tell you to stay off social media until your case is resolved. If you fail to heed this advice, you may wind up losing your case, or perhaps even seeing it be dismissed before it ever gets started. Being involved in an accident, victims go on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites and sabotage their own case. Whether it is posting pictures or videos of them performing physical activities, writing a post where they say things that incriminate them, or giving out other information about their case, your lawyer will strongly urge you to resist the temptation to tell the whole world about your accident. Also, your attorney will advise you that the other driver, their insurance company, and possibly even insurance investigators may be following you on social media to find things they can use against you.

Since a car accident case can involve many complicated legalities along the way, always put your trust in lawyers who handle these cases on a regular basis. If you don’t, you may be cheating yourself and your family out of much-deserved financial compensation.