There are a number of situations that can cause individuals’ lives to change. Where these could definitely be positive events such as getting a new job or having your first child, some of these are negative events such as being hit while driving your car or being beaten up by someone that is high on drugs or alcohol. For the latter sort of experiences, finding legal representation should be the initial Steps to follow after a car accident.
The first few minutes post-crash are vital
Really, one should always have a business card for a lawyer in one’s wallet or their contact saved in your phone. After you have moved the car to the side ot the road and ensured that there is no immediate danger remaining near to your vehicle, contact law enforcement. Based on the tenseness of the situation, it may make sense to remain at a distance from the other driver until the sherriff or city police show up on the scene.
Keeping your story factually accurate
When you have your time to talk about what happened with the law enforcement officer, make sure to accurately discuss the situation that led to the crash. While you may not have all the information that the officer asks for, remaining honest throughout the whole process is the way to ensure that no further issues arise from the wreck. As long as you were stone sober and were not participating in behaviors that directly led to the accident, there should be an easy way to deal with any fallout from the experience.
Don’t volunteer any information that is not directly being asked for
While this is purely advisory and does not contain any direct legal advice, the experience that I have had over the years is that providing an officer with extraneous information is an easy way to add to any problems that may arise from the accident. If you think of this in a dispassionate way, adding further descriptors to your narrative is increasing the difficulty you experience in keeping your story straight. I’m not advocating for an individual to obfuscate or otherwise lie to an officer of the law, but only offer up answers to the questions that they are directly asking.
Successfully communicate with your lawyer
It is absolutely vital for an individual to communicate with their lawyer everything that was discussed with officials, whether it be the law enforcement officer that took the report, the insurance company, or the person in which you were involved in a crash with. Stronger representation occurs when the lawyer understands how their client has represented themselves to these groups and can create the best possible argument utilizing those facts. Forgetting or misrepresenting what was said will be a net negative to your case; write things down as quickly as possible or (if the situation allows), record everything.
If you have a situation in which you would like clear and concise legal information, schedule a consultation. Always remember that what I am writing here does not constitute any sort of legal advice
