Observe closely to determine if any of the drivers were under the influence of alcohol. If you suspect alcohol might have been a factor in the accident, seek out witnesses who can testify about signs of alcohol intoxication in the party at fault. If you decide to make a claim in court with the help of an auto accident lawyer, it will still be your word against the other driver.
If you think you will be seeking the help of an auto accident lawyer then you or a friend need to collect the names and other contact information from all passengers, pedestrians, and witnesses to the accident. Even perpheral witnesses such as the storekeeper who saw the whole incident from the other side of the street.
When speaking with witnesses, it is essential to note down any remarks they make about the incident. Take note as to whether they mention if anyone was hurt, if anyone acknowledged causing the auto accident. For example, did anyone report hearing someone say, “ I should have been wearing my glasses,” “ I was driving too fast,” “ I spilled my hot coffee and it took away my attention for an instant,” “ I should have been paying better attention,” etc. All of this information will be very helpful if you make a decision to contact a personal injury attorney or should someone take action against you.
Before leaving the scene of the vehicle crash, make sure to meticulously record the place, date, and time of the automobile accident. This will be important information if you go ahead and contact a personal injury attorney.
As soon as possible, you should write down a detailed account of the auto accident. Specifics worth noting include a physical description of the automobile accident itself, including the directions vehicles were travelling in at the time of the accident, road conditions, weather conditions such as fog, rain, snow, darkness, icy surface, etc.. The account should include specifics about what occurred, who and what was damaged. If the police were called to the accident scene, the description should note who received tickets, and what action the police took, if they administered a sobriety test to any of the drivers. It might be helpful to make a diagram to accompany the description.
Should you decide to speak with an auto accident attorney, make sure to bring all this material to the meeting.
Another thing you should do before departing from the scene of the vehicular accident is to carefully note the general condition of the cars involved in the auto accident. Any irregularities such as bald tires, a flat, low tire, or a burned out headlight, which may have been there prior to the accident should be noted down. All this information should be brought with you to the office of the personal injury attorney at the time of the free consultation, or at least in your possession should someone decide to take action against you.
The care you take in preserving accurate details about the auto accident will stand you in good stead whether you are dealing with insurance agents and or lawyers to resolve conflicting claims about the auto accident.
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