In the immediate aftermath of an automobile accident, some people do not fully understand the gravity of the situation. Many may not realize that the way they conduct themselves and the information they gather at the scene can greatly affect the future outcome of any legal actions the accident produces.
This is a normal state for a person who experiences such an accident, especially if that person suffers some form of personal injury. A person who suffers an injury should focus on addressing the needs of the injury first to ensure that the injury does not worsen from lack of care.
However, this lack of focus on the other issues at hand may cause problems later on. In many instances, it is wise to call an attorney to come to the scene of the accident, to advise a person of his or her rights, and to gather evidence to build a strong personal injury or property damage claim.
After you experience a car accident, don’t underestimate the value of having an attorney at the scene to represent your interests and gather evidence.
Remain mindful of what you say
One of the biggest risks you may encounter after a car accident is the urge to say more than is wise to another party at the scene of the accident. Common southern courtesy may encourage you to apologize to the other driver or drivers in the accident, which is not in and of itself a bad thing. Unfortunately, depending on the context of an apology or even the wording of an apology, you may later learn that another party took your apology to mean an admission of guilt or liability.
An attorney can help you communicate clearly with other parties while ensuring that your rights remain secure and that you do not accidentally assume legal liability you do not deserve. Similarly, an attorney can help you communicate with any law enforcement without sacrificing your rights in the process.
Fresh evidence is good evidence
An attorney understands the importance of collecting quality evidence at the scene of an accident, and knows which kinds of evidence are often most useful when building a claim or refuting one.
After a car accident, you may not think to gather all the evidence that is available. However, the scene may get cleared away within the hour, depending on the nature of the accident and roadway where it occurs. You may lose access to important evidence before you even know that it is gone.
Calling an attorney to the scene of an accident alleviates this pressure, so you can focus on your own matters while the attorney gathers evidence. The attorney may collect photo and video evidence of the scene, and may consult sources of information that you may not think to look for.
Be sure to protect your rights and priorities after an accident, and don’t hesitate to reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney to ensure that you have all the tools you need to recover.
