Essential Car Accident Legal Advice for Victims

Car accidents are extremely common, and they often end up being scrutinized in legal terms. Worse, because the average person doesn’t tend to get in an accident often, most people aren’t aware of how they should handle a car accident. Especially in the moments right after it, when you’re trying to handle a hectic and potentially dangerous situation.

How you handle the accident and the days, weeks, and months after it is crucial to getting compensation.

Here’s the car accident legal advice you need to make the right decisions from beginning to end.

1: Do Not Accept Blame

One of the first mistakes a person makes after a car accident is something you wouldn’t expect. Everyone gets out of their cars, starts talking, and even if the victim isn’t to blame at all, they try to take some of the blame. They might say, “It’s okay. I should have let you over.” That simple sentence, or anything like it, can cost you the case.

At the scene of the accident, you think you’re being nice to someone else who is probably stressed out. They might not be aggressive. They might be extremely upset and frantic, and you want to do the right thing to calm them.

Well, that frantic and apologetic attitude tends to go away very quickly when insurance companies are called, police start writing reports, and especially when lawsuits get filed. Guess what? They will bring up that you said you were partially to blame.

2: Do Not Diminish the Seriousness of the Accident

This is similar to our first point of car accident advice. Not only should you not accept any blame, but you should also avoid trying to diminish the seriousness of the situation.

Usually, people do this for the same reason they say it’s not entirely the other person’s fault. They want to calm the person. It seems innocent, but when your case is built around how badly the other person damaged you and your car, it doesn’t look good that you told them it was no big deal at the time of the accident.

3: Get Medically Assessed

Another serious problem that occurs is that people don’t seek medical attention right after the accident. This usually happens during accidents that don’t create obvious injuries.

Hospitals aren’t the most fun places to go to; they can take forever, and you’re likely worried about having a big bill for no reason, but they do two things for you.

First, many injuries aren’t noticeable right away. You have adrenaline pumping through your body, and you’re probably a little shocked. You can have an injury that doesn’t start affecting you until the next day or even the next week. Some injuries can hide for years.

Seeking medical attention right after the accident will ensure you find any accident-related injuries immediately. That helps you, and it helps your case.

Then, there’s the fact that you want to back up any injury claim you might make with reliable medical records. If you try to sue someone for an accident-related injury, but you didn’t go to the hospital until 3 months later, it is very difficult to prove the injury actually came from the accident. Anything could have happened to you within those three months, and the defense will try to argue that.

Don’t deny medical treatment. Go to the hospital, get checked out, and make sure you’re okay. Even if you get a bill, that’s going to become part of your lawsuit.

4: Cooperate with Basic Requirements and Police

While you should limit how much you speak after an accident, there are two things that you must do. They are legally required, and if you fail to do them, you will have much bigger problems than losing a lawsuit.

First, you must cooperate in exchanging personal information with the other driver. They need your insurance information, name, license, and a contact method. You also need this information from them.

If the accident is very serious and ambulances are rushing either party off to the hospital, this information isn’t accessible right away. Get the license plate number if you can, but the police will be heavily involved.

That’s the second thing you need to do. You need to cooperate with the police. You need to call them, and when they arrive, they’ll start asking for information. Avoid arguing with the other person or the police. Simply give them your account of what happened for the police report, and do not diminish the seriousness of it or accept blame. Stick strictly to the facts required by law.

5: Call a Lawyer ASAP

You don’t want to wait to call a lawyer. A lawyer will help you avoid mistakes right after the accident, and they’ll be able to immediately start making moves. You’ll still need to have a consultation to determine if they can take on the case and what they recommend, but they’re still useful.

If you wait, you risk making mistakes, and you make it harder to gather evidence that can become less reliable the longer the lawyer isn’t part of the process.

6: File Insurance Claims Promptly and with Lawyer Guidance

The insurance company is likely to be your biggest opponent until you actually start negotiating with the defendant. The insurance company does not want to pay you. They often use tactics to reject claims based on small mistakes, avoid contact, and attempt to run out the claim-filing period.

Make sure you file your insurance claim promptly, and it’s best to get your lawyer involved. Car accident lawyers handle insurance companies every day, and they know how to get results. They’ll guide you to file your claim properly, and then they’ll argue with the insurance company in a way that works.

7: Follow All Medical Recommendations

Do not deny any medical recommendations. If your doctor tells you to go to physical therapy but you think you can do it on your own, go anyway.

The bill can be added to the lawsuit, and if you don’t follow medical advice, it can be used against you in court.

Get the Compensation You Deserve with Loutos Law

If you’ve been in a car accident, don’t wait. The process for filing a lawsuit is complicated, and small mistakes can cost you the case.

Contact Loutos Law for car accident advice and legal representation today.