How to Shield Yourself from Common Personal Injury Suits
April 28, 2016 | Adriel B. VillarrealIf you are in a car accident and feel you may be at fault, you may find yourself facing a personal injury lawsuit. What can you do to shield yourself from common personal injury suits and protect your financial interests? Here are some steps to take to protect you from legal repercussions in the wake of an accident.
Exchange Information Immediately– When you are in a car accident, the first thing you should do is stop and exchange insurance and license information with the other driver or drivers. It is a criminal offense in every state to leave the scene of an accident, and can be used against you in a civil case as evidence of negligence.
Never admit fault– Do not admit liability and try not to apologize for the accident, as this can be seen as claiming responsibility. Just ask if everyone is OK and don’t try to explain what happened.
Take pictures– Regardless of who is at fault, you should take pictures of the accident scene and vehicle damage. Take close-up pictures and long range pictures, as well as photos of any skid marks, stop signs or traffic lights. If you believe road conditions or partially-obscured signs or traffic signals may have taken part in causing the accident, take photos of those things as well.
Get witness information– Try to get contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident. Their testimony may prove invaluable if you find yourself in a personal injury lawsuit.
Make sure your insurance is up to date– Have the right accident insurance. Making sure in advance that you are properly covered by your car insurance policy could save a lot of time and stress after an accident occurs. You can do this by reviewing your policy and/or calling your agent. Make sure you have enough coverage, $100,000 minimum liability.
These are just a few things you can do to help shield yourself from a personal injury law suit. If you have been involved in an accident and you need a personal injury attorney, call us today!