Unfortunately, car accidents happen all the time. With so many distractions in today?s digital world, distracted driving is a very real problem. The truth is that at any given daylight moment across the U.S., as many as 660,000 people are using cell phones or other electronic devices while driving a vehicle. Participating in this kind of dangerous activity makes the risk of getting into an accident three times more likely. If you do end up in an auto accident, here are three steps you must take.
- Don?t leave the scene of the accident
Whether the incident was your fault or not, never leave the scene. All auto accident lawyers will tell you that hit-and-runs can result in serious criminal penalties, especially if someone was hurt in the crash. Before you do anything else, move to a safe spot and check to make sure that everyone involved is okay. - Call a car accident lawyer
You might be wondering, ?Do I need a lawyer after a car accident if no one was injured?? In most cases, the answer will be yes. Someone may not appear injured at first but could end up filing personal injury charges for some sort of pain later on. You?ll need the help of an experienced law firm in this case. You may also want to contact a car accident lawyer if the other driver was under the influence or if you feel you have been cheated by your insurance company after surveying the damage to your vehicle. - Document the scene in detail
After an accident, use your phone to take pictures of anything and everything. Make sure you have sufficient evidence to protect yourself in case the other party tries to lie or embellish in court. Photograph the cars from every angle, the street signs, any injuries, etc. Also write down everything exactly as you remember it happening so that you can give a clear and accurate statement to law enforcement. Don?t forget to collect contact information from any witnesses as well as the contact information from the other party.
The key is to avoid making a bad situation worse. If you were, in fact, at fault for the accident, do not admit guilt. Wait to speak with the police until you have a car accident lawyer present.
