What to do After a Car Accident in College Park
Being in an accident can be a stressful and confusing situation. It is wise to be prepared and to know what to do after a car accident, if and when such an incident should occur. One of the very first things a person should do is contact a College Park car accident lawyer, who can help guide them through the rest of the process.
Three Things to do After a Car Accident
The first thing that a person should do after a car accident is assess the situation. The person should evaluate whether or not they require medical attention. If they believe for any reason that they require medical attention, they should not hesitate to call 911 and request that an ambulance be dispatched to the accident scene.
The second thing a person should do is contact the police. By contacting the police, the injured person has set in motion a number of things. The police can respond to the scene and facilitate the exchange of contact information between everyone involved in the motor vehicle accident. The police can also record any statements from any of the parties involved in the accident or anyone who witnessed the accident. Likewise, the police can obtain contact information for any witnesses that may have seen the accident.
People who have witnessed an accident are usually more comfortable speaking with a police officer than with anyone else who has been involved in the incident. It is very important to contact the police so that an officer responds to the scene to collect all of the pertinent information.
The third thing a person should do when they are involved in a motor vehicle accident is contact an attorney. It is important to contact an attorney as quickly as possible so that the attorney and the client can discuss the facts and circumstances of the individual case so the attorney can begin working right away in collecting all the necessary information and evidence that will be required to advance the injured person’s claim later on down the road.
Biggest Mistakes to Avoid
Some of the biggest mistakes to avoid after a car accident are feeling guilty about the fact that a collision occurred, or feeling embarrassed to seek medical attention. Oftentimes, people have a tendency to simply say “sorry” at the scene. Anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident should understand that these statements can be, and often are, used against them at trial. If a person is involved in a motor vehicle accident and they do not believe they are at fault, they should not say “sorry” or give any information that indicates they are responsible for the accident.
The other big mistake that people make is that they fail to contact an attorney in a timely manner. Typically, immediately after an accident, both parties report the collision to their insurance companies and the insurance companies begin their investigations of the incident. When an insurance company investigates the occurrence, it is investigating in order to determine whether it needs to pay the claim or not. Their motivation is to not pay money and therefore, their investigation is biased towards protecting their assets. If a person does not contact an attorney and instead speaks to an insurance company on his/her own, that injured person runs the risk of potentially harming the claim, which could negatively affect their ability to receive compensation.
Understanding Car Accident Claims in College Park
People should know that an injured person has the right to initiate a claim and the right to be compensated for his/her injuries. No one should feel bad or be discouraged to pursue a claim for injuries. However, people should also understand that no matter how simple or straightforward the claim may be, the at-fault party will defend the claim to the fullest extent possible. This can be done by either challenging the way the motor vehicle accident occurred, alleging that either they were not negligent, or that the injured person was contributory negligent.
