Emotions and tensions run high in the immediate aftermath of a car accident. It can get even more frustrating if the cause of the accident was a vehicle malfunction. Variables like that make it harder to determine liability. Luckily, there are steps you can take to ensure the best outcome for yourself in the wake of an accident that resulted from your car malfunctioning.
Determine What Went Wrong
The first step is determining the origin of the accident. Finding out which motorist, if any, was at fault for what happened. If no driver seems to be liable, the responsible party might be one of the vehicles involved.
Some common vehicle defects you should train yourself to look out for include faulty ignitions or pedals, defective brakes or wheels, broken seat-belts, and others. Depending on the nature of the issue, the owner of the car found to be at fault may be held accountable–or it could be the entity that made or sold the car.
Get Legal Help
Hiring a knowledgeable lawyer to defend your rights is always advised. They’re not always required to file a claim after an accident, but lawyers likely have more experience dealing with insurance companies than the average person. Exploring representatives who specialize in defective product law could also come in handy, so it’s something to consider.
One of the most important things to do in these sorts of situations is to gather whatever evidence is available which could demonstrate vehicular malfunction. Before all else, make sure the police and your chosen insurance agency are aware of the accident. Going through a medical evaluation and having records handy won’t hurt either.
Work Out the Case
Eventually, witnesses to the event will reach out or be contacted by the authorities. Speaking to others yourself at the scene of the accident can help you obtain information. Don’t be afraid to take pictures and videos of the scene for posterity.
If you or anyone else ends up injured in a serious accident and it can be demonstrated clearly that vehicular malfunction played a key role in the event, a personal injury lawyer can help contact the government to see about the possible issuance of a recall for the car or cars in question. Even if doing this doesn’t end up helping your case in particular, you can still end up making it less likely that the same problems afflict other motorists.
This article was written by Dixie Somers, a freelance writer who loves to write about business, finance, and family issues. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful daughters. You can find Dixie on Facebook.
