Driving a car is a thrilling and worthwhile experience. We recommend that everyone – if you haven’t yet – learn how to drive a car. Anything worthwhile doing follows a long and tough road.
The fact that driving is a worthwhile experience means that there are many things to learn. You need to learn how to operate, get a feel for the car, understand the maintenance, the various traffic rules, and many more.
Another reason for all these things is safety. Driving can be dangerous too. Collisions and accidents can happen on the road. When it does happen, you need to be ready for it. You need to keep on top of your car accident case.
One of the best ways to stay on top of your car accident case is by getting competent legal help.
If you secure the right legal team, they will protect and handle things you don’t even know you need handling when an accident occurs. They will also let you know of the do’s and don’ts that need to be followed.
Let’s take a look at some of the ways the right legal team can help you keep on top of your car accident case.
How a Legal Team Can Help
When you’ve been in a car accident, there are many things that you need to keep in mind. Here are some of the things a legal team would advise you to do and not do.
Hold Your Peace
The first thing that you need to remember is to hold your peace. This is a common thing that any attorney will advise you to do. The rationale behind it is that you will avoid admitting any fault where the accident occurred.
Oftentimes, and especially after an accident has taken place, we don’t realize what we are really saying. Sometimes, what we’re saying will be like admitting that we caused the accident even if that isn’t the case.
The shock and the high emotions may push people to say some things without looking at all the circumstances.
The only thing that people are required to do is to exchange insurance policy information and cooperate with any police investigations happening.
Don’t speak to anyone until you seek legal advice first.
Make a Report and Document
Right after the accident, cooperate with the police as they make a report. You will receive a copy of this report. Share all the information you have in that report with your insurance company and do it as quickly as you can.
There are certain instances where insurance companies refuse to cover your claims because you did not report the details immediately.
While you have the police report, it is important that you document as much as possible as well. Take pictures of the scene. Make sure you get a variety of angles. If the photos won’t cover it, take down notes of important things at the scene as well.
Limit the Information You Share
After a car accident, you will be asked to share some information with the other driver and with the police. However, you must limit the information you’ll be sharing as oversharing may cause you harm.
You are expected to share information such as you and the other driver’s name, certain details about the car (make, model, plate number, color, etc.), the plate number, and the insurance company and policy number of both drivers.
Immediately inform your insurer about the accident. Even if you won’t be filing a claim, the other driver may.
Don’t share any information like your address, as in some cases you may be harassed or spied upon.
Social Media Guideline
The limiting of information goes well beyond the accident. For a time, limit what you share on your social media. The other driver may be looking at some of your social media posts and can claim – via the posts and photos there – that you aren’t injured or haven’t sustained any emotional damages for instance.
You also should not talk about the accident on social media. There is a confidentiality protection in effect when you speak to your attorney. However, when it is shared on social media, it becomes public knowledge.
The best practice is to set your profile to “private” after you’ve had an accident. Make sure that only trusted friends and families can see what you have posted. If you can ensure that these friends and family cannot share what you are sharing, do that as well.
Don’t add any new friends or contacts for a while unless you really trust them. If the person trying to add you is from another insurance company or an insurance adjuster, avoid them like the plague.
Wait for your claim to be resolved before posting anything about it on social media.
Signatures Will Have to Wait
If the other driver is pushing you to sign something after the car accident, avoid doing so until you seek legal advice first.
The shock may push drivers to sign things that they shouldn’t. Your legal team should advise you on what to sign and what not to sign. Speak to your legal team first.
Legal Advice Matters
Legal advice is very important when a car accident occurs. We have been saying it repeatedly, and that’s because they have a lot of help to offer.
Most people think that they can handle a car accident by themselves. However, the truth is that there is a reason people go through numerous years at law school. The legal system is a complicated matter that takes time and effort to master. Your legal team knows the ins and outs.
They won’t only tell you the do’s and don’ts, they will also make sure that you are properly compensated for your claims. Oftentimes, people walk away with less than what they are really meant to have. Your legal team can help you get the exact value of what you deserve.
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