It’s always an unfortunate incident if you get in a vehicle accident. Nothing good will come out of it. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t make sure that you are prepared for this possibility. Even if an accident is not your fault, you need to know how to handle the situation responsibly. That’s why you have to have a plan.
And that plan can come in three steps. First, you should have an accident checklist in your vehicle. Start at the top and move down. Second, you should gather as much information as possible from the scene of the accident.
Without information, you may not be able to present a judge with evidence or an insurance company with details about a claim later. And third, call a reputed Car Accident Injury Attorney. You might think you can handle the consequences of a car wreck on your own, but having legal representation behind you is always a good idea.
Go Through Your Accident Checklist
It is the simplest thing ever to print out a car accident checklist and put it in your glove box right now. If you don’t have one there already, you should make one today. It is a list of logical steps that you should follow immediately after a car wreck. Because you may be in an emotional state, you might not be thinking clearly.
This accident checklist will at least force you to go through clearly delineated steps even if you are thinking through a fuzzy brain.
Gather as Much Information as Possible
Immediately after any car wreck, no matter if it is minor or major, you need to gather as much information as possible. Take pictures of license plates. Take photos of the scene of the accident. Take pictures of your car, the other cars involved, and even photos of the sky, the street, or anything else nearby. All of this evidence can be useful when it comes to making an insurance claim or presenting a case in court.
Call a Lawyer
The third step after you get in a car accident is to call a lawyer. If you don’t already have the name of a respectable car accident attorney, then you can do quick Internet research to find one. Ideally, you will find someone who represents people in your city.
They will understand the geographical considerations of the accident and can use that information to your advantage. Even if you believe that you have everything handled to the best of your ability after a car wreck, legal representation is still relevant. There are nightmare stories of people trying to represent themselves in court, but they are tripped up by parts of the law that they don’t understand, and end up losing their case.