Car accidents can be highly traumatic. They can cause severe injuries and hefty damages to the vehicles involved. As a victim of a car accident, you might wonder what steps you should take to protect your legal rights for total compensation. Before hiring a personal injury lawyer in New York, you should carefully analyze the dos and don’ts of a car accident to take the right steps.
How to Protect Your Rights After a Car Accident
When you are caught in a car accident, analyzing the initial precautionary steps you should take is crucial. These steps can directly influence your damage claims. Here are the dos and don’ts you should remember.
Do: Prioritize Personal Safety
The first step you should take after a car accident is to prioritize your personal safety. Check for injuries and move to a safe location to avoid further impact. If you are already away from the road and other dangers, you may stay at the accident scene and wait for emergency services to arrive at the location.
Don’t: Admit Your Mistake
Avoid admitting any mistake or fault when giving statements to the police officers and emergency services after the scene. Any statement you give can be used against you in a court of law when filing for claims.
Do: Call the Police
After ensuring your safety, the first thing you should do is call the police. State the accident’s details to the police officers and answer their questions to help them investigate further. Remember, your statements can be used in your favor when filing for damage claims. Be careful about your speech and try to be as accurate as possible.
Don’t: Leave the Scene
Leaving the scene indicates guilt or fear. While the investigation teams are wise enough to investigate the scene thoroughly, you might want to stay until advised otherwise. This is also important when you have injuries or vehicle damage. Staying at the scene can help you in terms of evidence collection and insurance claims.
Do: Call an Attorney
After a car accident, you may call an attorney as soon as possible to seek legal representation. A lawyer can guide you on the steps you should take to protect your rights after a car accident. If possible, ask questions from your attorney over the phone regarding what you should and should not say. Such information can save you from making the wrong moves at the wrong time. Calling a personal injury lawyer in New York can benefit you when dealing with such situations in the busy streets of New York.
Don’t: Neglect Documenting the Scene
While you wait for your lawyer, you must try to collect evidence regarding vehicle and property damages. You may also record visuals of injuries caused by the accident to prepare your case well. These details can help you get the right compensation for your losses.
Seek Expert Advice From Baez Legal Today!
The above information highlights the crucial dos and don’ts you should remember after facing a car accident. If you need expert legal representation in New York, a personal injury attorney at Baez Legal can help you. Get in touch with us today to discuss your case.