What to do when you get in a car accident?

The moments after a car accident are often overwhelming and confusing. There are certain actions which you should take when you are involved in a crash in Raleigh, North Carolina or in Wake County because the laws are so favorable to the insurance companies of the at-fault driver.  You should contact a car accident attorney immediately. There are numerous laws which reduce the amount which you can recover for injuries when you are involved in an accident in Raleigh. But there are certain key things you must do in order to protect yourself and help your case. Taking pictures of the accident, noting the time and weather, and not signing your rights away are just a few things you can to do help yourself. If you wait too long, sometimes important evidence can be washed away or lost. So follow these steps as soon after the accident as you can.

Even if you haven’t been in an accident, keep a copy of these helpful tips with you for quick reference.

DOs

• Do immediately call for medical help if someone is injured.
• Do immediately seek medical attention if you are injured. It is important to document your injuries.
• Do call the police. They will document the accident and gather facts for legal purposes. If you don’t call the police, it is your word against the other person’s.
• Do report the accident to your insurance agent as soon as possible.
• Do exchange information with the other parties involved, such as address and phone number. If it’s a car accident get the license plate number; make, model and year of the vehicle; driver’s insurance information; car registration number; driver’s license number.
• Do get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of any witnesses. Keep in mind, if it was a car accident, any passengers involved in the accident are NOT witnesses.
• Do take pictures with your smart phone of the accident. Take pictures of all angles of the accident and  make sure to pay particular attention to the damage to both vehicles.
• Do collect any physical evidence that could have caused the accident.
• Do gather details from the accident: draw a diagram of the accident; note the date and time; the type of weather; the location of the accident—including any landmarks.
• Do call an attorney immediately. Anglin Law Firm can help you get the most from your automobile accident.

DON’Ts

• Don’t panic. Remain calm and call for help.
• Don’t leave the scene of the accident.
• Don’t discuss the accident with anyone and blame anyone, including yourself.
• Don’t forget to document and take pictures of all damages, especially your vehicle, if in a car accident.
• Don’t wait. The longer you wait to get legal advice, the harder it is to prove your case.
• Don’t speak to anybody from the at-fault person’s insurance company before consulting a lawyer. If you give a statement, it may be used against you in the future. Remember the other driver’s insurance is not on your side during a car accident. They will use the statement to reduce the compensation you may be eligible for.
• Don’t sign any papers given to you by an insurance company or agree to a settlement of your case until you get legal advice.

These are just some of the things you can do to protect yourself and your rights. If you need help, Anglin Law Firm has the experience and resources to take on a system that does not always work in your favor, even when you’ve done nothing wrong. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us at 919-803-1516 or at http://anglinlawfirm.com/contact-us/ .