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Accidents are not something you can be prepared for at any time. But the truth is that you should not neglect the chances that this happens every time you sit in your car. Unfortunately, people get hurt on the road almost every day. Sometimes a car hits a physical obstacle, other times a pedestrian, gets off the road or collides with another vehicle. These accidents often end with lost human lives. That’s why we need to know what to do if something like this happens.
The first thing that comes to mind is to ask for help and call the police, but we can only do this if we are aware and slightly injured. But you must also know that everyone who is part of the accident has rights and obligations under the law.
Legal aid is what you urgently need when such an accident occurs. That’s why you must have someone like maconcaraccidentlawyer.com to be able to help you in such situations. A good lawyer protects your rights but also makes you aware of what is your responsibility at the moment.
However, you should also know how to protect your rights after a car accident.
Do not rely on insurance companies
Theoretically, insurance companies should help you fulfill your rights to compensation and post-accident treatment. But do not talk to them while you are still in shock. What you can say in a state when you are nervous and scared affects the overall course of events in the future. That is why you should refrain from talking to anyone but your lawyer. Do it even when you are not to blame for the accident. Traffic accidents are always complicated, as there are often casualties.
What can you do?
If you are aware, call the police, ambulance, and your legal representative. If you endanger other road users, move the vehicle if possible. Even though you think you should not do it, in fact, your car accident should not endanger others.
Stay at the scene and wait for the police. In the meantime, you can photograph what the situation was like, to avoid moving the evidence. In many countries around the world, the injured party has the right to gather evidence himself until the police arrive. Then, make sure you have visible injuries. Try to keep witnesses at the scene until the police or your lawyer arrives.
Seek medical attention
If you have visible injuries, but also severe pain, call an ambulance. Injuries must be identified immediately. Your doctor can examine you and compile a report on what exactly happened to you. Based on that report, you have grounds to further prosecute the culprit or claim payment from the insurance company. However, do not rush into that request.
You need to get a real diagnosis and therapy but still go to regular checkups to monitor the condition. Never refuse medical examinations, as they are your right after you have been part of a car accident.
Cooperate with the police
If you cooperate, you can get the most out of the event. Be precise when describing events and refrain from comments that could disrupt the investigation. Stick to the facts and do not try to lie, because that way you can cause great harm.
Be kind to the other participants in the accident. If no one died in the accident, the case can be resolved in a really easy way. Communicate openly, but stay with your lawyer by your side. That way your rights are fully protected.
Being cooperative means you really want the case to be resolved in the best way possible. But, don’t underestimate your injuries and don’t blame yourself for what happened. Think about yourself and your future, and it would be easier to tell the things the exact way they happened.
Don’t trust the others and don’t admit fault
As we said, don’t tell anything until your attorney arrives. When the police come, give a statement, but never tell that it was your fault, even though it seems like it was. The court is the only state body that can determine who is guilty. If you say that it was all your fault, you are giving up on the fair process. The other party can sue you, and you will lose money – and we surely don’t want that to happen.
If the other drivers try to push you not to call the police, don’t trust them. They are aware they are guilty, and they try to avoid settlement. It’s a huge red flag, and you don’t need to hesitate under that pressure. The police and ambulance must be involved in the case, and if someone is trying to avoid that, they feel guilty too. But, your goal is to protect your rights, so don’t skip on this one.
Document everything
Take care of your health condition, collect the medical reports, and document the police reports too. Take pictures, take witness phone numbers, and stick to what your attorney is telling you. Hire an experienced lawyer, so they can help you prevent your rights.
And of course, be patient, polite, and generous, no matter how nervous you are. You can’t do anything wise if you are angry, so calm down and be patient – because that’s how you are protecting your rights.
We suggest you document anything that seems important for the case because sometimes, people are really cruel and they can mess with the evidence.
Conclusion
We hope that you won’t ever have to deal with a situation like this. But, if you have to, you need to keep all these things in mind. Try to protect your rights the best way possible. Follow our suggestions, so you can do the right thing. Be patient, and polite, but don’t trust other people, because they will try to avoid the legal procedure at any cost.
We also hope that this article will help you figure out the best way to fight for your rights. Save this article, just in case!