Being in a car accident is one of the most frustrating, rattling experiences, and one which is fairly common, as one source reports: “In 2020, a total of 35,766 fatal car accidents occurred on roadways across the United States. Another 1,593,390 crashes resulted in injuries, and 3,621,681 caused property damage. That means a total of 5,250,837 collisions happened over the course of a single year.”
Although common, a car accident can leave you shaken — not to mention causing significant personal injuries and damages. You may be able to recover compensation, but it is important that you take certain steps at the scene of the accident in order to protect your legal rights.
Ask Everyone in Your Car if They Are Injured
It is important that you are fully aware of the extent of everyone’s injuries so that you can call for help as necessary. Be sure you and everyone else in the car get checked out thoroughly for personal injuries by emergency medical personnel at the scene or by going to the hospital as soon as possible. Even if everyone seems to be fine at first glance, some personal injuries from a car accident can take days or even weeks to show up, so it is important to have a clear understanding of potential effects and complications.
Call 911
No matter how minor the accident may seem, it is important to notify the authorities, report the accident to the police, and report your impressions and observations about what happened. After the accident, you will also want to get a copy of any police reports or other documents that are written to reflect what happened during the accident.
Take Photographs
When you file a claim after your car accident, both the insurance company and the jury will be looking for relevant evidence that proves your case. Part of that evidence will be pictures taken at the scene that can serve as demonstrative evidence of what happened before, during, and just after the accident. In addition to pictures of the scene, you should also take photos of any damage to your vehicle or other personal property, as well as pictures documenting the full extent of your personal injuries and the injuries of anyone else in your car.
Remain Calm
A car accident can bring out the worst in many — if not most — people. However, getting frustrated, angry, or out of control after an accident will not help matters. Staying calm is key, even if you have done nothing wrong and were the victim of someone else’s negligence.
Exchange Information With the Other Party
After the accident, you will likely need to file a claim against the other party and their insurance company in order to recover compensation for your damages, and you may even need to file a lawsuit in court. It is important that you collect certain information from the other party for this purpose. This includes identification information, contact information, insurance information, and information about the other party’s car.
Take Down Witness Information and Statements
A case following a car accident relies on relevant evidence regarding liability and damages. A witness’s recollection of what happened can help greatly in establishing fault for the accident and allowing both the jury and the insurance company a better understanding of how the crash occurred. Make sure you take down contact information for all witnesses at the scene, and if possible, ask them to record or write down a statement about what they observed, including as many known facts as possible.
Record Your Own Statement About What Happened
Your own recount of the accident will also be an important part of the evidence you will present in court. So that you can accurately describe what happened, record or write down a statement about the accident as soon as possible. Include all important facts and details about what you observed, the injuries you suffered, the damage to your vehicle, and generally what happened before, during, and after the accident.
How Can Gerber Injury Law Help With Your Car Accident Claim?
After a car accident, it is important to protect your legal rights and ability to recover compensation for your injuries. This entails not only gathering evidence and information at the scene of the accident but also contacting an experienced car accident lawyer after the crash. A car accident claim requires a thorough understanding of the law and its application to the specific facts of your case. A knowledgeable attorney will negotiate with the other party and their insurance company toward a fair and reasonable settlement offer, and if a settlement is not possible, they will be able to take your case to court.
Whatever type of accident you have experienced, your collision claim can quickly become complex, and issues of liability and damages need to be fully addressed by a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer.
Renowned for our legal excellence in Arizona, Gerber Injury Law has amassed a proven record of success. Having secured over $100 million in favorable outcomes for our clients since 2001, we have established our prowess as car accident injury attorneys. Our proven competency inspires trust among Arizona residents, encouraging them to entrust us with their most intricate car accident and injury cases.
If a fair and reasonable settlement is not possible, our Arizona car accident attorneys are ready to represent you at trial. Some of our most recent victories showcase the recoveries we achieve through aggressive litigation. We are trial attorneys. Some personal injury cases in Arizona are not resolved through settlements. You need an attorney with experience going to trial and achieving positive verdicts.
We exclusively practice personal injury law to give us an edge over firms with broader scopes. We can meet with you one-on-one to discuss how we will use our tailored legal strategies to help you achieve your goals, and we will guide you through the claims process to make it as stress-free as possible. Call our Arizona personal injury attorneys for a free consultation 623-486-8300, or click here to reach us online.
