You get into a car accident, and another driver caused the crash. You either get injured in the accident or you have a family member in the car who gets hurt. The treatment is going to be very expensive — even the ambulance ride to the hospital is a serious cost.
As a result, you know that you want to sue the other driver for damages, forcing them to cover your costs. You did not cause the crash, after all, and you were driving safely. They bear the responsibility for what happened. What can you do to help your case immediately?
- Stay at the scene of the accident. Leaving the scene is illegal and may make it difficult to gather proper evidence. It can also make you appear guilty, and it may be a crime to leave in certain situations. Do not do so.
- Take pictures of the scene. The crash reconstruction team will try to determine what happened, but key evidence can be lost right away. Take pictures to preserve as much of it as you can and to support any future statements you give.
- Consider who else saw the crash. Was there video footage? Do you have witnesses? Talk to people right away so that their stories can back up yours.
- Contact the authorities. Your case can also be supported by the statements from the police and their official report. Do not assume that you can just go home and start the legal process yourself. Talk to the police and get that evidence on your side.
- Get the other driver’s contact information. You may want to take photos of their insurance, their driver’s license and their license plate. Make it as easy as possible for the authorities to identify who was involved in the accident at a later date.
Naturally, you cannot do all of this if you get rushed to the hospital. Your health is most important. If you can, though, these steps can really help your case.
Getting started
You know you need the money to cover your costs after this unfortunate incident. Be sure you know what steps to take to get things started with your legal team.
