When to Hire A Lawyer After A Car Accident
Even though car accidents are a common occurrence, with a little under six million in the United States in 2015 alone, it doesn’t make it any less scary for the individuals involved. If you’re involved in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, your mind can often go into panic mode, leaving you to wonder what your next move is.
If you want to know when to hire a car accident lawyer, the answer is almost immediately, and we’ve included the process you will need to follow. Being aware of the steps can make all the difference to your control of the situation directly after a road accident.
1. Call for Emergency Services
Immediately after an accident, it’s crucial that you dial 911 for emergency services. Even if you believe no one is injured, police can take charge of the scene, help direct traffic if required, and take statements for a police report. These might come in handy for when you approach a car accident lawyer to claim maximum damages. Having police at the scene can also help to de-escalate any situation and keep witnesses at the scene you may require in court.
2. Gather Insurance Information
Next to making sure that no one is seriously injured, it’s equally as important to gather all the necessary insurance information from the other driver(s) at the scene. This will include their provider, their names, contact information, and addresses. However, it’s crucial that during this interaction you do not speak directly to their provider or take or lay blame for the accident.
Anything you say during any interaction with an insurance provider, or the other driver, may be used against you in a court setting. It’s best to contact your car accident lawyer for further clarification on this process.
3. Gather Witness Statements
Immediately after an accident that wasn’t your fault, it’s a good idea to talk to those who witnessed the crash to get their version of events. You may need to call upon these witnesses and provide their statements in court should your case proceed. The more effective and telling your witness statements are, the higher the chance you can claim for maximum damages. However, don’t forget to get their names, addresses, and contact information to easily contact them again in future.
4. Get All Paperwork in Order
From your ongoing medical reports and insurance company statements (both yours and the other driver’s) to police reports, property damage valuations and photos of the crash scene and damage, it’s crucial to have all of your ducks in a row. All of this information is vital to building a solid case, and without it, you may run the risk of a reduced settlement claim, or your case being thrown out of court.
5. Contact Your Car Accident Lawyer
Being involved in a car accident is an unfortunate situation, especially since they claim the lives of over 37,000 people every year in the United States. By hiring a car accident attorney, however, the aftermath can be substantially less stressful.
Once you’ve gathered all the necessary paperwork, it’s time to contact your lawyer and get your claims process underway. The goal is to settle for maximum damages, and one of the best Denver car accident lawyers can help you achieve just that.
While no one wants to be involved in a car accident, it’s an unfortunate reality of today’s modern world. Following on from a car accident, don’t delay in getting the legal process underway. Your efficiency and haste can make all the difference to the compensation to which you can lay claim.