Being in a car accident is scary and can shake you up. To
make matters worse, you now have to get out of your car and deal with
responsibilities that are very serious. If you are in your first accident, it
can be easy to forget what steps to take in order to protect yourself. When
this happens you risk your finances because many people take advantage of this
situation. Follow the steps below when you are in an accident and make sure you
are legally protected.
Call the Police
This one is a given. You may be tempted to handle it without
a police officer, but this is risky. You will want an official police report of
your side of the story because this will make your defense much stronger. On
top of this, the cop will be able to speak with witnesses and record any
evidence you may forget to get.
Exchange Information
with the Other Driver
You will always want to get the other drivers information
after an accident. To do this you should get their phone number, address, name,
insurance card (photo), and driver’s license (photo). If they don’t want you
taking a photo of their license and insurance then you should copy all
information with a pen and paper. Take a photo of this once you’re finished so
that you don’t risk losing the info.
Use Caution When
Speaking with the Other Driver and Witnesses
Never discuss fault with the other driver after an accident.
If they want to talk about it, tell them your insurance company instructed you
to not discuss this at the incident. This will protect you from any hearsay
that could be used against you. With witnesses you should use the same caution.
Do not ask them who they think is at fault. You can ask them what they saw
happen, but nothing more. Get their information and record their story.
Call Your Insurance
Company
Your insurance company will be your best friend during an
accident. They genuinely want to help you and will give you the best advice to
protect your legal liability. Provide them with any and all information,
photos, and reports that they can use. This will be your best bet in covering
your liability during an accident.
Contact an Attorney
This is highly suggested in a situation where any of these
steps haven’t been followed, or the other driver has contacted an attorney as
well. You will deal with many situations during the entire process that are
confusing and you can be taken advantage of. Your other driver’s insurance
company may offer you a quick settlement offer, and it can be tempting to
accept. Once you accept this you are dropping your ability to get a better
settlement and the other insurance company has likely tried to take advantage
of the fact that you don’t have an experienced
auto accident attorney.
When injured in an auto accident, you should first seek
medical attention, and then seek the legal advice and representation of an experienced
Sebring Florida auto accident attorney or lawyer as soon as possible. The
longer you wait to obtain legal representation, it may directly affect your
ability to achieve a successful outcome. Contact Lopez & Humphries, P.A.,
by calling (863) 709-1800. In the event that a death has resulted from an auto
accident, immediate family members of the victim may seek justice in the form
of a wrongful death liability law suit.
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