As you are preparing to go to an appointment, a friend’s house, or even the grocery store, the last thing on your mind is whether or not you are going to get into an accident. Perhaps you did not see the other car coming and the accident happened out of nowhere. On the other hand, some people who get into a car accident report that time seemed to slow down and they saw everything happen. Whichever scenario you are in, you may be left after the accident with property damage as well as injuries. When this is the case, what can you do? Most importantly, what kind of rights do you have after a car accident?
Know What Steps To Take
The most important thing to remember after a car accident is that you do have rights, especially when another party’s negligence was responsible for causing the accident. A car accident lawyer knows, you have the right to:
- Give the police a call. The other party at the scene of the accident may be tempted to tell you that calling the police is making too big of a deal out of the accident or that the police will just complicate things. However, you have the right to call the police and may even have an obligation to do so if there are injuries.
- Talk to witnesses after the accident. If you see that there were other people at the scene of the accident and believe that they witnessed what happened, it is a good idea to get their contact information and ask them what they saw. Their testimonies may be invaluable when it comes to a personal injury claim.
- File a claim and get compensation. The other party may try to convince you that insurance does not need to get involved and that the two of you can settle this on your own. However, you have the right to file a claim to pursue compensation for any property damage you sustained and for any injuries you are suffering from.
- Keep to yourself. In other words, you have the right to say as little as possible to both the other driver involved in the accident as well as any insurance agents who call you after the accident. While you may need to report basic information to your insurance company, you do not owe the other insurance agent details regarding the accident. That is where it is beneficial to have a lawyer negotiate on your behalf.
When you are wondering what your rights are after a car accident, do not hesitate to arm yourself with a lawyer, especially when the other party or their insurance agent is trying to convince you otherwise. Reach out to a trusted law firm today.
