Being in a car accident can be a traumatic experience. If you don`t suffer any serious injuries, the most difficult side of things to manage is probably all the legal admin you need to deal with: it can become tiresome and stressful. However, if you know the right people to contact and what to do straight off the bat, things can be a little easier to manage. To start, here is a list of resources to help you out with a legal side of a car accident. Keep reading for more information.
Who You Need to Contact
Right after an accident, you must contact emergency services straight away – whether you or someone else involved is injured. It`s also your legal duty to contact the authorities (like your local police) if you see or have been a part of an automotive accident, especially if you suspect any serious injuries or deaths.
After you have left the scene, your next step is to get into contact with a lawyer who can help you with an automotive accident case. Whether you or the other party involved is at fault, if there are damages or injuries there is likely to be a legal case that will need to be dealt with and you`ll want to speak to a good lawyer who will help you with what to say and how to handle things going forward.
What You Need to Know
After an accident, you`ll want to collect as much evidence as possible to help you out with your legal case. Collecting evidence is an important step after an accident and should be done, if possible before you leave the scene. You`ll want to collect photographic evidence of information such as the location, the vehicles involved, registration plates, damage to either vehicles and injuries, as well as anything that indicates the type of accident or how the collision occurred. After this, try to collect the personal and contact details of the other driver, as well as any witnesses who are willing to help you out.
What You Need to Say
It`s important that before, during or after a case involving a collision, that you do not say anything that may complicate your legal case. Avoid saying anything that may imply that you are admitting fault or that “everything is fine” regarding damages or injuries. Certain statements could complicate your case as well as any insurance claims that need to be made. This is why it`s important to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible so you`re aware of the details before speaking to anyone in depth about what happened.
Conclusion
While legalities may seem like a complex factor in an already frustrating and upsetting situation, there are always constructive ways to handle them. Keeping calm and being as rational as possible is a good first step, and try to remember what you know about how to handle the situation. Speak to emergency services, local authorities and legal entities before you do much else, and you should be fine.