Auto accidents can cause immediate panic. After the screeching brakes and the awful sound of your car hitting another vehicle in a car accident, your mind will start to race. Eventually, when you start to think clearly, you might realize, “This wasn’t my fault.”
If you know the other driver caused the accident, there are steps can you take to prove it wasn’t your fault. Take a look at some tips you should follow.
Before you leave the crash scene, it’s essential to gather all possible evidence that can help prove what happened and who caused the accident. Some items you should gather include photos of the area, the position of the vehicles, any damages caused to the cars, any traffic controls near the scene, and other items that could be relevant later to prove no-fault in car accidents.
It’s crucial to get all the information you can from the other driver in auto accidents before leaving the scene. You will need their full name, phone number, email address, driver’s license number, license plate number, insurance information, and other information. This will ensure you have a way to contact them later, and also give you information for your insurance company.
If there were others around the crash scene who witnessed the accident, make sure you get a statement from them about what they saw. This can help you prove you were not at fault. You will also need to get their contact information and full names for your insurance company and attorney.
Make sure you look into what traffic laws were violated that led to the car accidents. Note the speed limit at the location, traffic controls, and other laws that might have been broken. You will need the witness testimonies to help determine what actions the other driver took if you did not see it – including if they made an illegal turn, were texting and driving, ran a stop sign or red light, or other violation. The police will also look into this and include it in their official report.
If you’re not sure what laws were broken, your personal injury attorney can also help you determine what violations occurred.
Immediately after the auto accident, you will need to call 911 to have a police officer dispatched to the scene. The officer will survey the scene and speak with you and the other driver to get your explanation of the accident. He or she will also talk to any witnesses. The officer will then put this information into an official car accident report. If the officer deemed one party responsible, that will also be stated in the document. You and your attorney can then use this report for any legal action you want to pursue against the other driver.
While you’re gathering the needed information from the crash scene, it’s important to pay close attention to what you say to the other driver, the police officer, the insurance company, or anyone else at the scene. You mustn’t share any details of the accident with anyone without having your attorney present. This can help you avoid inadvertently admitting fault or worsening your case against the other driver.
If you’re in an auto accident, you need help from top-rated, hard-working representation. At Shapiro|Delgado, our attorneys put their injury law experience to work for you. And we handle cases on a contingency basis, which means we don’t get paid unless you do.
We represent clients throughout Florida, including Sarasota, Bradenton, Tampa, Saint Petersburg, Pinellas County, and surrounding communities.
To set up a free personal consultation, call 941-954-4000 or use our convenient online contact form.
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