What are My Rights if I am Injured in a Car Accident?
Car Accident Attorney
In the unfortunate event that you have been injured in a car accident here are some dos and don’ts that you should be aware of to best protect yourself. We understand that you might be in shock but as far as possible try and take a few deep breaths and calm yourself.
Here is what you need to remember when you are involved in a car accident:
- Don’t assume that just because you were hurt the other driver will take responsibility and everything will go smoothly for you.
- Be very careful about what you say and to whom. Something as simple as apologizing to the other driver can be used as an admission of guilt from you. If this happens it could completely turn the tables against you.
- The other driver is under no obligation to admit their guilt. The responsibility falls on you to prove that it was their fault that you were injured.
- Call your lawyer and a trusted friend or relative. You do not have to say anything to the police unless you have first spoken to your lawyer and they are present with you.
- Get medical help. If you have been injured it is extremely important that you first get yourself checked for any serious injuries.
- If you can, then take note of everything that is happening. Try and go over the events in your head and put them down somewhere. It is always better to record the events as soon as possible as we tend to forget details or get mixed up with memories of stressful situations. If you are in no position to take notes yourself, ask someone you trust to do it for you and to also note down your memory of what happened.
These points are what you need to be aware of as soon as the accident happens.
Things to remember after you have been injured in a car accident:
- Don’t assume that the other driver’s insurance will cover your medical expenses. You don’t even know if the other party has been insured. Insurance coverage is determined on a case to case basis and your lawyer will be the best person to guide you regarding that.
- If you choose to settle your bodily injury claim with the insurance company of the driver who was at fault, you will have to sign a release. The release bars you from making any claims directly from the driver. Once again your lawyer will be the best person to guide you in this area.
- The owner of the car might be different from the driver of the car. In a case like this, you might be unsure about who needs to take responsibility. Depending on the situation it could go either way, so it is always better to get legal help.
We cannot stress enough how important it is to have an attorney, like a personal injury lawyer relies on, by your side when you have suffered an injury in a car accident.