Top 6 Tips for Dealing with a Car Accident
Unfortunately, there aren't many positive things that can be said about car accident statistics. On the contrary. According to them, over six million people end up in one, in the United States only.
You can imagine the situation in other parts of the world. There are various reasons why people deal with them. There are those who drive under the influence, that are reckless, and yet, there are drivers who are very cautious, but they still end up in a car collision due to someone else's neglect.
Now, if you’ve been in a car accident relatively recently, or you simply want to know what needs to be done in these instances, then just keep your focus on this detailed guide, because it’s going to tell you all about it.
Are You Okay? Is Everyone Else Doing Fine?
In most instances (unless we are talking about a typical fender-bender) people seriously get injured in car accidents, which is why it’s of huge importance to determine if you feel okay and if everyone else who was in your automobile feels okay too.
Bear in mind that it’s practically forbidden to leave the scene of the accident. Instead, you must wait until the ambulance or police arrive. In the meantime, you should check other passengers to see how they are doing.
If you, or anyone else don't feel well, then the next thing that you're supposed to do is to seek medical help, especially if any of you are seriously injured. If that's the case, then you mustn't delay anything.
Don’t forget that, sometimes, you can have injuries that aren’t immediately visible or painful, which doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have them checked. That’s something that can only be properly executed by a healthcare provider, so be sure to go to them as soon as possible.
It’s Recommended To Seek Legal Advice
If you've been in a car collision that was caused by the other driver, then you have every right to demand compensation for all the upcoming expenses. That's something that can hardly be accomplished if you solely rely on yourself.
Instead, you should contact a car accident advocate. Keep in mind that in these types of situations, you'll need to face not only your insurance company but an insurance company from the other driver as well.
There’s no need to remind you how draining and tedious all of this can be. It would be best to put your trust in the hands of an Oregon car accident lawyer because this state currently has the most experienced attorneys of this kind. However, if this location is too far away from the place you live in, then just do your research to see what other state also boasts fantastic car accident solicitors.
The point is that you must have a lawyer on your team so that the two of you can carefully develop a strategy that's going to serve your best interests. For starters, you should schedule a consultation, to see what your odds are when it comes to this case.
You Need To Collect The Evidence
Another thing that could make or break your case is the evidence that you will gather. In these cases, it’s critical to collect as much as you can, however, below, you’ll see what things are the most important:
Model of the vehicle
Make
Year
License plate number
The overall description (this refers to the bumper stickers, color, and other relevant information)
If there's any damage to your automobile, then make sure to take pictures of it. Aside from that, you should take pictures of area conditions and traffic signals too. To put it simply, if the car accident happened at a four-way stop, but you didn't see the stop sign since it was either missing or was lying face down, then you need to prove that by taking pictures of this scene.
This is a very important part of your lawsuit. If you have the time, you should look around to see if you’ll notice any surveillance, because if there is, then you should contact the person who owns it and ask for a copy of the footage. That's something that could contribute to your case as well.
You Should Change Information With The Other Party
Depending on the state you reside in, the information you should exchange with the other driver may vary. Something that's perceived as a bare minimum as far as this is concerned is their full name and insurance information. Besides this type of information, you should try to exchange the following too:
The phone number of the driver
Make and model of their vehicle
If by any chance, you notice that there were witnesses at the scene of the accident, then you need to obtain their names and contact information as well
Name, phone number, and badge number of the police officer who arrived at the accident scene
If Necessary, Call The Tow Truck
If you notice that your automobile has sustained serious damages, then you should call the tow truck because they are going to tow your vehicle to a collision repair center. There are a lot of people who have motor club memberships which is great in these instances because you can receive roadside help.
Now, before you give your four-wheeler to the tow truck, make sure to check their credentials to see if they are reputable or not. At the end of the day, you shouldn’t hand over your car to literally any tow truck.
Learn All About Your Coverage
It would be wise to go through your insurance policy to comprehend your coverage, limits, deductibles, and exclusions. Remember that there are insurance companies that cover expenses for injuries or deaths even when you are the culprit. They cover legal fees, medical costs, and compensation for the emotional pain.
Being in an automobile accident can make you feel lost and confused because you are not too sure what you’re supposed to do. Well, we honestly hope that all the tips that were compiled today can come in handy in these circumstances.
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