Car crashes can occur anywhere at any time, and human error is responsible for over 90 percent of these incidents. When an accident occurs away from home, it’s especially important to know what steps to take.
Stay Quiet
When they are in accidents away from home, many people immediately take to social media. They understandably want to update friends and family as to the situation. It is perfectly okay to connect with people in this way. But be careful about what you say in the post. Do not make any statements as to the specific facts in the accident or speculate as to fault.
At the scene, it’s also important to not make any possibly incriminating statements. That especially includes saying “I’m sorry.” Such a statement could clearly be construed as an admission of liability. Your attorney can probably defuse the situation, but the process is very nerve-racking and time-consuming. Instead of “I’m sorry,” try to say something like “How can I help you?” This phrase expresses sympathy without admitting liability.
Finally on this point, do not talk to the other driver’s insurance company. The operator has standing instructions to extract damaging information. The insurance company already has a number of advantages in a negligence case. There is no reason to give it an even sharper edge.
Collect Evidence
When you are in a local accident, it’s relatively easy for your attorney to go back to the scene and collect evidence. But that’s almost impossible if the wreck occurs far from home. To gather evidence at the scene, concentrate on items like:
- The location of surveillance video cameras,
- Witness statements, and
- Photographs of physical damage.
It’s true that a local first responder is probably on hand. But this person is not there to collect evidence on your behalf. So, do not assume such collection will happen.
Evidence is important in a car crash case because the victim/plaintiff has the burden of proof. Without strong evidence, it is very difficult to obtain fair compensation.
Reach Out to An Attorney
It’s very hard to know what lawyer for your car accident to call when you are away from home. Try reaching out to an attorney you know back home. Lawyers are often interconnected, so your home attorney may be able to refer you to competent counsel.
A lawyer needs to get to work quickly to secure the evidence in the case. In addition to the above, there is some evidence that only a lawyer can collect. One example is the vehicle’s Event Data Recorder. The EDR records things like vehicle speed and steering angle. So, it’s often a very valuable tool. But due to privacy laws, the insurance company usually will not turn over the EDR without a court order.
If you were hurt in an accident, you deserve fair compensation for your injuries. But your attorney cannot obtain compensation alone. You must help by doing the right things in the immediate wake of the accident.
About Jammie Morey
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