Car accidents happen in a split second. When they do, the focus of your day shifts and your mind fills with a million questions. What happened? How did it happen? Who’s hurt? Who is going to pay for everything?
The consequences of a car accident stick with you for the rest of your life. You might have permanent damage from serious injuries to your spine or brain. Broken bones will heal, but you might never be as strong as you once were. With the serious nature of auto accident injuries, you need to hold the person who caused the accident responsible.
Understanding Your Rights After a Philadelphia Car Accident
It might seem like the crash that caused you so much pain is cut and dry. The other driver admitted fault and promised to pay you for your injuries. Unfortunately, payment is not up to him, but instead it is up to his insurance company.
If the other driver’s insurance company determines that you are partially responsible for the collision, you may have to pay for the actions of someone else. This can cost you and your family a significant amount of money.
To protect yourself, you need to know your rights. Here’s what you must do following a crash to ensure your rights are not violated.
- Call the police right away. With a police report in hand, you have more ammunition against the insurance company in case it tries to find you at fault for part of the accident.
- You’re familiar with the phrase, “anything you say can and will be held against you”? The same is often true for auto accidents. Limit your conversation to the necessary details only and leave the rest to your lawyer.
- Gather as much evidence as possible from the scene. This includes getting contact information from the other driver and witnesses, and taking pictures of what happened.
- Don’t be afraid to call your own insurance company to notify it that you were in a car crash.
- Document everything. Keep a detailed journal of your symptoms and injuries. You should also keep any medical statements from your doctor, and the clothing from the crash.
- Follow the doctor’s orders. Get the treatment she requires and attend all follow-up appointments.
Regardless of whether you and the other driver acknowledge that he was at fault, the insurance company will still try to put a portion of the blame on you. Proactively protecting your rights after a car accident will benefit you as you resolve your case. When it comes time to prove who was at fault, you will have less that the other person’s insurance can use against you.
Get Help From a Car Accident Lawyer
With a Philadelphia car accident lawyer on your side you get a better understanding of your rights, and also get the representation you need to defend your case. Call us today to learn more about how we can help with your unique case. With our free consultation, you will get a better idea of how we can help, and why having a lawyer on your side is so critical to your family’s future.
