If you and the other party in a minor car accident decided not to drive away, you might have filed a police report. If there was some damage to one or both of your cars, you might have wondered if one or both of you were at fault and decided to file with your insurance companies. Your insurance company might have found that the other party was at fault, but their company offered you a settlement first. You took it because it seemed like the easiest thing to do and would enable you to get your car fixed more quickly.
In the event of even a minor car accident, it can be helpful to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney before signing any settlement. They can advise you on whether you have a case and how much compensation you can expect for your injuries.
But before you move on, remember these things to avoid doing after a car accident:
Leaving the scene of a minor car accident without reporting it to the police is a major mistake. The Police report will be used in a minor car accident lawsuit to help the judge award the plaintiff the appropriate damages.
Be sure to gather as much evidence at the scene of the accident as possible. It’s best to get as many eyewitness accounts as possible and take pictures of the scene before moving on. Your car accident lawyer will sort through what is valuable and what is not.
When involved in a car accident, do not admit fault. You can’t tell from your vantage point who might be at fault and it is not your responsibility to determine who is at fault or how much comparative fault may be involved. Instead, let your attorney and the police figure out who may be at fault and how much comparative fault is at play.
It is important to see a medical professional as soon as you feel your injuries from the car accident. If you do not, it may be more difficult to attribute your injuries to the accident and will make it more difficult to receive compensation for your damages.
Some states require that you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance, and this policy is used to make sure that you are protected in the event of a car accident. You do not need to feel any obligation to avoid claiming from this policy if you have been involved in a minor car crash.
Reviewing a police report: You should look over the police report carefully to make sure that the facts contained in it are correct and that you agree with them. If you don’t agree with them, try to make your concerns known right then and there so changes can be made before you sign.
For all the reasons stated above and more, hiring a car accident lawyer right away can help you make sure that your rights are protected.
