A few years ago, I was in a pretty serious car accident. During the aftermath, I became really familiar with a lot of different types of lawyers. I worked with personal injury lawyers, insurance lawyers, and many others. Perhaps the most important, though, was the estate planning lawyer. I was really young, and neither my wife or I had thought about starting a will. But the accident kind of scared us into it. What would happen if one of us were to die? Even when still in the hospital, I was working with the lawyer to draw up a will. Now, I have some peace and security about what the future will be like if something should happen to me. And I have a lot of experience working with various types of lawyers! The accident was kind of a blessing in disguise in that way.
Following a car accident, people aren't always thinking clearly. For instance, you may feel that you don't really need a lawyer. After all, people are involved in car accidents all the time and you may think that your insurance company will handle things. That's usually not the case, which is why it's a good idea to have a qualified lawyer (one experienced with motor vehicle accident cases) in your corner. Your lack of knowledge about the relevant laws can place you in a major disadvantage in this situation, and it's not the time to be making serious missteps. Below are three things a motor vehicle accident lawyer will be able to do for you:
Advise You on What You Should Say
At the scene of the accident (and in the chaos) you may feel compelled to admit fault, or say something suggesting you admit fault (even though this is not what you actually intend). Doing something like this on the spur of the moment is a mistake, and one that could end up costing you a lot later. Once you have contacted 911 to inform them of the accident and checked to see if anyone involved in the accident is in need of assistance, your very next action should be to contact a lawyer. Your lawyer will be able to advise you about what you should and shouldn't say to the other driver.
Professionally Gather Evidence
While on the scene of the accident, you might want to take a few photos with your phone's camera and talk to any witnesses you see. However, your accident lawyer will assign a qualified and experienced investigator to gather evidence about the accident. This can be information about the other cars involved or data that is extracted from the black box in your vehicle.
Help You Get a Fair Settlement
Often, drivers who have been involved in serious vehicular accidents are offered a cash settlement on the spot by the other driver so as to avoid involving the police or the insurance companies. While it is sometimes possible to reach a settlement in a vehicular accident that doesn't involve the insurance company, this should be done much later and with the assistance of a lawyer. Making these kind of arrangements on the spot is almost never a good idea. Leave the question of a settlement in the hands of a qualified lawyer. This will prevent you from being left with unexpected liabilities and medical costs.
Share9 February 2015
