You maintain a safe distance between yourself and the car in front of you and always pay attention to the posted speed limits. Although you can take many steps to reduce the odds of getting into an accident, you can never eliminate the threat. Road conditions can often be unpredictable, and distracted drivers can cause a lot of damage to themselves and others. According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, 1.3 million people die in vehicle accidents each year and an additional 50 million are injured.
Getting into an accident is something that most people don’t want to think about, but looking at these numbers reveals that the threat is real. While some people trust their insurance companies to cover the related expenses, these companies will do their best to reduce the amount of money of which you are entitled. If you would like to safeguard your rights so that you can get the compensation you need, turn to a Northridge Valley car accident lawyer.
What to Do After a Car Accident
The steps that you take after you’ve been in car accident are vital. Firstly, you will to need to move to a safe location if possible. As soon as you are out of harm’s way, you must contact the police and inform them of the situation so that they can file a report and contact the emergency medical service. If you don’t notice any serious injuries, you will also want to check on the other driver and exchange insurance details. Additionally, collect the contact information of any witnesses before they have the chance to leave. If you have a smartphone, start taking pictures of your car and the other driver’s car for evidence.
Types of Car Accidents
Learning about the four types of collisions is a step in the right direction for those who want to seek compensation for their damages. You will gain an even better idea of how the courts will view your case, allowing you to move forward with confidence and peace of mind. A low-speed impact occurs when two vehicles collide while traveling slower than 10 MPH. People involved in this type of collision will commonly experience whiplash.
A rear-end collision occurs when one vehicle impacts the back of another car or truck, and the driver in the back is likely responsible for the incident. Side-impact collisions occur when one vehicle hits the side of another and can result in serious injuries. Accidents in which two vehicles slam into each other are referred to as head-on collisions and are the most dangerous.
Head-on collisions are serious accidents that involve two vehicles hitting each other while traveling in opposite directions, accounting for more than 10 percent of fatalities. A rear-end collision describes a situation in which one driver slams into the back of another car, and the driver in the rear will be legally responsible for the collision in most cases.
Advice for Speaking With Witnesses
When you speak with witnesses, it’s critical you choose your words carefully unless you want to cause unneeded problems. Rather than trying to get them to paint a certain picture of how the accident had occurred, encourage the witnesses to offer objective feedback on what had happened. Ask the witnesses what they were doing when they noticed the accident and whether they saw anything out of place.
No matter how tempting it might be, don’t try to assign blame on the side of the road, which can cause a conflict. The responding law enforcement officers will determine who is at fault, and the courtroom is the place to which you will go if you disagree with their decision.
Seeking Medical Treatment
People involved in car accidents will commonly avoid seeking medical attention after an accident if they don’t notice any signs of an injury, but that is a serious mistake that you don’t want to repeat. The shock and adrenaline that come with an accident can block the pain, and you won’t always know when you are hurt. Delaying medical treatment can give your injuries time to progress, making them even worse.
Even if you don’t feel any pain, you need to seek medical treatment as soon as you can. Doing so will prevent any more injuries from taking place but will also protect your legal rights. If you wait too long after an accident to seek help, the insurance companies might say that your injuries had taken place after the incident. Doing everything that you can to prove your case will give you the best possible odds of success.
When your goal is to build your case and to improve your chances of winning, learning about the most common types of accidents can help. During a low-speed collision, both drivers will travel less than 10 MPH when the accident takes place and rarely experience serious injuries. Minor dents and scratches are what you can expect from a low-speed collision.
The Importance of Contacting a Lawyer
Most people will promptly contact their insurance company after they are involved in a car accident. Doing so, however, is not always the smart move if you want to protect your right to seek compensation for the damages. When you report the incident, you could say something that will allow your insurance company to minimize the amount of money that you will receive.
A lot of people make this mistake and are discouraged to see that their payout won’t cover their medical bills and lost wages. If you follow in their footsteps, you could harm your budget more than you think. On the other hand, a caring lawyer will review your case and help you file your claim in a way that will strengthen your case.
Getting Help
If you need a legal team that won’t let you down so that you can build a solid case, turn to our Northridge Valley Accident lawyers, and you will be glad that you did. After you enlist our help, we will promptly review the details of your accident and injuries, doing what it takes to help you reach a favorable outcome. If you have concerns, comments or questions, contact us as soon as possible.
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If you or a loved one has been injured, you will want a top rated San Fernando Valley personal injury attorney that understands how to get the maximum compensation you deserve. Our pledge is to be your partner, and provide passionate, yet skillful legal representation needed to win your case. Contact our highly trained personal injury lawyers today for a free case evaluation.
