The Steps to Take When You’ve Been Injured in a Car Accident
Being involved in a car accident can be a traumatic experience by itself. This can be exacerbated even more so if lawyers get involved. As stressful as it can be, though, if you were wronged, you should be entitled to some form of compensation. Fortunately, personal injury cases as a result of car accidents are fairly common, and as such, there is plenty of guidance out there. Here is an overview of the necessary steps to take if you were unfairly injured in a car accident.
Recover
If you are involved in a serious car accident, your personal and mental wellbeing is always the foremost priority. You should thus make sure you take the time to recover before anything else. If it turns out you do seek legal action, your case will also be buoyed if you can produce evidence of missed work or hospital bills, as well so it’s important not to rush anything.
Work out Who was at Fault
The general legal concept of determining who is liable in a civil case is the notion of duty of care. For example, by using roads, drivers and cyclists have a duty of care to not act in ways that are dangerous or reckless to themselves or others. For example, if a motorcyclist was involved in an accident with another driver, if the rider wasn’t wearing a helmet, they may find it more difficult to make a claim.
You should thus consider the context of your accident prior to proceeding with any legal claims. If you were acting legally and safely, and the incident was instigated by some reckless or illegal behavior by the other participant, it is highly likely you will have some grounds for legal action. Otherwise, there is probably little point in further pursuing your legal claim.
Contact A Solicitor
If you have been injured in an accident and decide to seriously pursue legal action, the next step is to contact a lawyer. They will further be able to analyze whether the other party is likely to have been at fault according to the law and whether you would be able to prove this in a legal context.
Since the vast majority of automobile accident lawsuits do not go to trial, they can also probably advise you on what kind of settlement you may be entitled to. Lawyers will also likely inform you of your area’s statute of limitations, as there is usually a finite time frame in which you can pursue a legal claim regarding a car accident.
The specific legal guidelines also vary from region to region, so it is a good idea to consult a local expert for an overview of the particular laws on car accidents in your area.
Gather Evidence
Ultimately, your case will be decided by how much evidence you can provide in favor of your version of events. It is therefore important that if you do pursue a legal claim, you do so quickly, so you can produce as much of this as possible. Ideally, you will have collected the insurance information and basic details of the other participant, first of all. Further evidence such as hospital bills, proof of missed work, mechanic fees, and any other evidence demonstrating lost work or incurred costs will substantially bolster your case.
