After you are struck by a negligent driver, you may know that you were not to blame for the car accident, but how can you prove that to anyone else? In particular, how can you tell your insurance company with confidence that no liability should fall on your shoulders? The question may be simple but the answer can get a little complicated, and requires careful preparation.
Immediately after a car accident, there are always a few steps you should try to take to help bolster your eventual claim. To put it simply, you need to act like your own detective.
Follow these steps after a car accident:
- Call for Help: If anyone is injured, you should contact emergency medical responders immediately. Better safe than sorry, as it is frequently said. If you do not feel any immediate injuries, you should still see your trusted physician as soon as you can for a checkup, as some injuries may be subtle yet damaging. Request a copy of any medical records.
- Use Your Smartphone: Everyone knows not to use a cellphone while driving but this device comes in handy after an accident. Open up your camera app and start taking photographs of the scene. The more angles, the better, and focus in on physical damage to your vehicle. Don’t forget to get shots of the environment if you think adverse weather conditions could be partially to blame for the collision.
- Talk to Eyewitnesses: Was anyone not involved in the crash around to see it? You would be surprised with how many Good Samaritans there actually are on our roads. Request written testimonies from eyewitnesses and other drivers to give to your personal injury lawyer later on.
Why Proving Liability Is So Important
Georgia is an at-fault car insurance state, meaning that if you are in a car accident, you could pay for damages despite not being the person who caused it. To reduce how much you end up paying, either out of pocket or through your insurance coverage, you need to also reduce your liability. All the evidence you hopefully collected after the crash can come together to form a cohesive argument that takes liability away from you and into the lap of the driver who actually caused your collision.
If you need help forming a car accident claim, Karsman, McKenzie & Hart can be your legal guides. Our Savannah car accident attorneys can review your evidence, pinpoint liability, and pursue maximized compensation on your behalf, allowing you to focus on rest and recuperation. Call us at 912.335.4977 for more information or to schedule a free initial consultation.
