No one ever plans ahead for a car accident; it always happens out of the blue and leaves you to deal with the situation to the best of your ability. If you’ve ever been placed in such an unfortunate situation, you know how hectic the scene of the accident can be. Passersby start hovering around, surrounding cars start honking to make way, and, worst of all, the other parties involved in the crash start fighting. Everyone is trying to turn the situation to their advantage, and that’s why you should also do the same.
What you need to keep in mind is that preparing to preserve your rights and strengthen your case starts as soon as the crash takes place. That said, here’s how you can increase your odds of winning the car accident case.
Get Medical Attention
First things first: always assess the situation of all parties involved in the crash. If you’re relatively unscathed and able to move around, check the state of your passengers and call 911 in case of finding someone bleeding, unconscious, or in a bad state. While help is on the way, perform the necessary first-aid to minimize the effect of the injuries. Once everything settles down, you’ll need to get medical attention yourself as well – whether or not you’re feeling there’s nothing wrong with you. Some injuries like a whiplash only resurface days after the accident. Moreover, delaying treatment or failing to get together may give the defendant and insurance companies an excuse for defense against your case. These medical reports are also an essential piece of evidence to strengthen your case.
Gather Evidence and List Down Witnesses
While help is still on the way, be sure to document the scene of the accident. To gather solid evidence, take pictures and videos of the damage done to the vehicles, the scene, the injuries, and any damage done to your belongings (such as a laptop or a phone). Make sure to exchange contact information, vehicle registration number, and driver’s license with the other parties. This is also when you should call the police to report the accident. The police will create an accident and collect witness statements; make sure to get a copy. You should also ask the surrounding witnesses for their statements, and ask them if they’ll be willing to testify in court if need be. Most importantly, never admit fault to anyone during this step.
Hire an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer
There’s only so much you can do on your own. Before you start suing for damage, asking for compensation, or negotiating with the defendant or insurance companies, you’ll need to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer specialized in car accidents. The law for car accidents varies according to state; for instance, states like Colorado follow comparative negligence laws. This means you may sue the other driver for being more at-fault than you, but your degree of fault will be subtracted from the compensation you get. You’ll need to hire a car accident lawyer in Colorado Springs who’s familiar with the state laws to maximize your odds of winning. Moreover, there’s a statute of limitation which, if passed, you’ll almost always lose your case. An experienced lawyer will act swiftly and prepare for your case, leaving you to recover without the added stress.
Keep a Journal
Sometimes, the effects of the accident can only be seen after a while. That’s the case with some of the resurfacing injuries presenting themselves days after the accident, but you may also start experiencing complications or new symptoms throughout the course of treatment. Sometimes, the emotional and psychological impact of the accident can only be experienced after everything had settled down. That’s why you should keep a journal to prove all the changes as well as your commitment to the prescribed treatment.
Keep Your Case Off Social Media
You might think that your social media accounts are a safe and private space to vent out, but that’s far from being true. Make sure to keep your all details about your case away from social media; making these details public when you’re trying to get full compensation or win your case may only result in unnecessary trouble down the road. The details you share can, and probably will be used against you if your case is taken to trial.
When looking to increase the odds of winning your car accident case, you’ll need to act swiftly and smartly. Firstly, you’ll need to get the needed medical attention, as well as document the scene and gather evidence. It’s best to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer to represent your case and improve your odds. Meanwhile, keep a journal to document your experience and, whatever you do, don’t share any details on social media.
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