Injury and property-inducing automobile accidents thought to be caused by another motorist’s negligence can have a seriously adverse impact on your physical and financial health. Fortunately, a facet of civil litigation known as personal injury law enables such individuals to seek compensation from perceived guilty parties through actions called lawsuits. The actions car accident victims execute in the minutes, hours, and days following the incident in question could play a major role in whether they earn compensation or not. Such pertinent steps include:
Moving to a Secure Location
Provided they are not injured, all accident parties should relocate themselves and their vehicles to secure locations away from traffic. This reduces the risk of any further injury or property damage.
Notifying the Appropriate Authorities
Local law enforcement entities should be notified. They will dispatch units capable of securing the accident scene and fill out reports detailing the events leading up to the mishap.
Exchanging Information
All accident parties should exchange personal information. Such data includes names, addresses, contact phone numbers, emails, and proof of insurance coverage.
Gathering Evidence
An accident victim might be prohibited from accessing certain pieces of evidence police need to conduct investigations. That said, incident parties are encouraged to author a detailed account of the events, gather whatever evidence they can obtain through photographs, and obtain eyewitness testimony.
Receiving a Complete Medical Evaluation
Those involved in auto mishaps are encouraged to receive a comprehensive medical exam within a few hours to no more than a few days following the incident. In many instances, potentially serious internal injuries are not always symptomatic immediately after the event in question. Therefore, for one’s health and well-being, a physician-led assessment might prove crucial to preventing long-standing or even life-threatening impacts.
Furthermore, connecting one’s injuries to the accident is crucial to success in a personal injury case. Injuries that can be attributed to other biological illnesses or preexisting physical problems will often greatly hinder a plaintiff’s chances of receiving compensation.
Consulting with a Car Accident Lawyer
Upon completion of the previous steps, injured individuals are urged to contact a car accident lawyer. A legal professional can review the facts surrounding the case, determine if the prospective plaintiff has a legitimate case, and strategize the most logical next steps.
Car accidents often have far-reaching impacts on a victim’s life. However, by executing specific appropriate actions, stricken subjects might be able to recover needed financial compensation.
Author information: Emma Sturgis is a freelance writer based out of Boston, MA. She writes most often on health and education. When not writing, she enjoys reading and watching film noir. Say hi on Twitter @EmmaSturgis2.
