by Contributor
(Mar. 8, 2021) — Did you know that there are more than 270 million registered vehicles in the U.S.? In fact, America has the busiest roads in the whole world. So if we consider this data, it is not a surprise that everyday people get involved in accidents. And if we take the numbers, every day, an average of 90 accidents occurs.
But the burning question is: Who is at fault when two cars collide? Well, to know its answer, you have to answer a few more questions as well. And those are as follows:
- Was the driver intoxicated?
- Did he/she break any traffic rules?
- Was the driver distracted? And
- Did the driver try to overtake the other?
The answer to all these questions will tell you whether the driver was at fault or not. However, when it comes to proving the fault, an issue arises. Do you have any idea what it is? No? Alright, then, let us brief you about the issue.
Just like you, the other party will also try to prove their innocence. However, it is not possible that both the parties involved are innocent. Right? That means they might try to put a false claim on you. In such a scenario, it’ll become very challenging for you to protect yourself.
You purchase a car for your convenience, thinking that you’ll use it every day to reach your destination on time. However, you never thought that you would be in a circumstance where you will be struggling to safeguard your rights. Nonetheless, it is not the time for you to lose hope. Instead, it is the time that you hold the hands of the law and protect yourself from such false claims.
But how? Well, we have collected a few measures that will help you. To know what these measures are, keep on scrolling through!
Contact the police.
When you get involved in an accident, the first thing you need to do is seek medical attention. And after that, you should contact the police. The police will visit the place of the accident and file its report. You can use this report to prove your innocence. Moreover, you can use it while making an insurance claim as well.
Don’t forget to ask about the copy of the report that you will provide to your lawyer.
Click the pictures for evidence.
Do not leave the place of the collision without clicking pictures. However, if you are not in a state that you could take pictures, ask somebody to do it for you. Take their number or email to collect the pictures from them later. Make sure to have pictures of the car and the nearby environment from various angles.
It will help in understanding the damage. In fact, you should also try to collect information from the witnesses so that if the other party tries to put a false claim on you, you can use them to protect yourself.
Hire a lawyer
Do you think you can fight for your rights on your own? No, right? You need to have proper knowledge about the law to use the correct argument at the right time. Sadly, you are not aware of every clause written in the law, and you also lack the experience to present yourself in front of the court or insurance company. Only experienced and successful car accident attorneys can help you in this situation. So without wasting much time, you should hire a lawyer.
Don’t forget to give all the crucial information to them to become your shield of protection.
Don’t provide information about the accident to a third party.
You should keep in mind to not disclose any information to any third party, especially to the other party’s lawyer or insurer, as it can backfire on you in a way you might not think of. In simple terms, keep all the information secure and strictly confidential. Only talk to the other party in the presence of your lawyer. And if they try to contact you, even after you deny the meeting, report this to your lawyer.
What claims can you get:
Once you have successfully defended yourself, you’ll be able to make the following monetary claims.
- Reimbursement for prescriptions and medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
Isn’t it great?
Wrapping up!
The only reason why the law was constructed is to protect the citizens of the country. Thus, you should take advantage of it and protect yourself. Don’t let the bad doing and poor intentions of people affect your life. Fight for what is right, hire a lawyer and claim your rights!