After experiencing a car crash, people are often left to cope with serious injuries and costly medical bills on their own. In addition, insurance providers often offer car crash victims underestimating settlements that are only a fraction of what they actually need to recover and move on with their life. All this can pressure car accident participants into signing shady settlements and end up with less than they need to cover for their injuries.
So, if you ever find yourself involved in a car accident situation, you should know that a clock started ticking the moment your accident occurred. Practically, it’s a countdown to the initial financial hit coming your way as a result of your accident. A missed paycheck, the medical bill, and you might find yourself amid financial trouble that you won’t know how to solve.
To avoid this scenario, it’s essential to have an experienced car accident attorney by your side. This article will explain what you should do after experiencing a car crash and the situations when you need an attorney if you’re involved in a car accident.
Things To Do After You Experience A Car Accident
After you’re involved in a car crash, you need to take specific steps to put yourself in the best position to collect the compensation you deserve.
First, you need to call 911 and report your accident, which helps alert police officials and emergency medical teams of the accident scene. Your medical and police report will be crucial when establishing liability and fault. Without these reports, it’s just your word against theirs.
Then, you should gather evidence from the car crash scene. Take photos with your smartphone of the license plates, collect eyewitness statements, document vehicle damage, troublesome intersections, and other important information that could help your lawyer establish fault.
Finally, contact a lawyer because insurance providers will always seek to reduce their liabilities by offering low-ball settlements. To avoid this, immediately contact a specialized car accident attorney from the area where the accident occurred to begin building your case.
For instance, if your car crash happened in Riverside County, you’ll need to go with a Riverside car accident lawyer to guide you in the right direction and inform you of your possibilities for compensation and legal rights.
When To Contact A Lawyer
Nevertheless, not everyone who has been involved in a car crash will need to seek legal representation right afterward. Still, if your car crash is complex or severe, then it’s indispensable to call an experienced lawyer as soon as possible to start working on your case instantly.
If any of the following apply to your situation, you should call a lawyer right away:
- Any crash that causes significant injuries to you or someone else;
- Any accident involving another motorist like a pedestrian, cyclist, or other vehicles;
- Any crash where the fault is not established;
- Any car collision in a school zone;
- Anytime you disagree with the police report;
- Any accident that involves an uninsured or underinsured driver.
Minor car collisions will often not require the assistance of a lawyer. However, there are exceptional circumstances where a lawyer’s services can be extremely beneficial after a minor crash. These include:
- Minor car accidents that result in significant property or vehicle damage;
- Accidents that involve any injuries to a passenger in your car or to yourself;
- If you experience problems dealing with car repairs and insurance limits.
The bottom line is that the sooner you contact an attorney, the better. For example, in the State of California, you only have two years to file a personal injury claim. While that may seem like a lot of time, valuable evidence can be destroyed or lost in just a few weeks. For that reason, injured car crash participants should immediately contact a lawyer even if they’re not completely sure that they want to file a lawsuit.
Essential Things That You Need To Provide To Your Lawyer
If you want to ensure that your initial meeting with your car accident attorney goes smoothly, you should provide them with the following information:
- Contact information about all passengers that were in the vehicle at the time of the accident;
- Key facts about your case ;
- Full police report;
- Medical records about the sustained injuries or conditions;
- All financial documents and medical receipts;
- Photos and other evidence of the accident scene or vehicle and property damage;
- Witness statements and contact information.
Final Words
Ultimately, if you’ve been involved in a car accident, you should reach out to an experienced car accident lawyer immediately to find out more about your options. A fine attorney will help you decide the best course of action for you and navigate you through all legal obstacles that may come along the way.
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