Despite the developments in road safety and collision prevention technology, road accidents are still prevalent. An accident can be a very confusing event as people are usually at a loss about how they should proceed. Many people who’ve never been in an accident before, don’t even know how to handle it properly so that they don’t get reprimanded. However, it’s very important for you to know how to legally proceed after an accident since this can save you from a lot of future trouble, and you can even make claims for compensation yourself.
Today, we’re going to take a look at what you can do immediately after an accident so that you’re in the clear. This article will guide you through the various steps that you should take and the pitfalls you need to avoid. So let’s get to it and find out what you need to do and what you need not do after an accident.
1. Get Yourself Checked
This might sound like a general tip that can’t help you build your legal case, but you should never underestimate the importance of documentation. If you go to a doctor immediately after your accident, your doctor will be able to diagnose any issues that might have arisen because of it. The doctor will usually document your injuries in order to treat you. This documentation can be used to successfully make an insurance claim with your healthcare provider. What makes this documentation even more important is that you’ll be able to utilize it as evidence in court so that your case holds more validity. Not only this, but the checkup will also help you identify any serious injuries with a delayed onset, the sooner you’ll report these injuries to your insurance agent the faster your compensation will be paid as well. There’s nothing more important than your personal health, not even a legal claim.
2. Get Some Help
Since you’re not a legal expert, it’s best for you to stay away from making any unnecessary statements or liaising with the other party on the spot. You might want to hire a lawyer as they’ll help you handle the case much better from a legal perspective. Most people make statements and admissions that they shouldn’t make. As pointed out by the accident lawyers from https://www.marksandharrison.com/blog/recorded-statement-after-an-accident/, it’s always better to take expert help since the lawyers know how to proceed. You’ll never have as much experience in dealing with accidents as an experienced lawyer does, this is why you should consult your lawyer before you proceed with anything. If your lawyer does all the talking for you, it’s highly likely that they won’t make any mistakes that can jeopardize your claim.
3. Call the Cops
Most people are so afraid of policemen that they try to avoid them as much as possible. Even in the time of an accident, many people will try to avoid cops because they don’t want to complicate things. However, you should understand that the role of the police is to help you, not to trouble or harass you. Calling the cops is a legal obligation in many places which is one reason to call them immediately after an accident. However, the second and more important reason is that policemen will investigate the matter deeper by taking statements from witnesses and people involved in the accident, and they’ll maintain a proper record of all the events. This record is very useful and makes for a piece of highly credible evidence that can be presented in court. If you call the police yourself, then you prove that you did nothing wrong and take full accountability for your actions. This is why you should always call the cops rather than trying to make a deal with the other party to part your ways.
These are just some of the many tips that you can implement to make your life easier in the long run. It’s easy to avoid these steps altogether and go the other way. However, you must understand that you’ll be saving yourself a lot of time and effort in the long run if you take care of all the legalities beforehand. You’ll ensure that you can’t be slapped with an unnecessary legal case by the other party who wants to extract some money from you. You’ll also be able to file a lawsuit against the opposite party in case you feel like you deserve to be compensated for all your damages and losses.