Did you know that more than 6 million car accidents happen each year in the United States of America? One of the worst moments that you can experience as a driver is the moment when you need to remember what to do after a car accident. The causes of car accidents are many, and it’s difficult at times to determine where the car accident fault lies.
One of the best steps that you can take after a car accident is to find an attorney near me that has a strong grasp of car accident laws. The good news is that you’ve found the right place to learn about the different ways to prove car accident fault.
Keep reading this article to learn more about what you should do after a car accident today!
Traffic Law Violations
Traffic law violations are the most clear-cut ways to prove car accident fault after you’re involved in a vehicle accident. This occurs when one of the parties involved in the car accident breaks the traffic laws for the road that you’re both traveling on.
Some common traffic law violations include speeding, failure to stop at a stop sign, and failure to yield. State and local laws tend to vary from place to place so it’s a good idea to check in with your local DMV to confirm the laws for your area.
It could get confusing or tricky trying to understand the car accident laws. If that’s the case then you’ll want to reach out to experts like those at Georgia Auto Law. You can still represent yourself in court if you so choose, but it’s a better bet to hire an experienced attorney to build your case and represent you.
Rear-End Car Accidents
Another type of accident where it’s easy to prove who is at fault is a rear-end car accident. It’s often simple and straightforward to show who is at fault after you’ve been rear-ended. These types of accidents are often serious or even deadly since there is little way for your to try to escape the imminent accident.
This is also the reason why the liability for these types of accidents falls on the person that does the rear-ending. Any driver that rear-ends another driver is automatically assumed to be at fault based on car accident laws. This law holds up even if there is a safe distance between your rear bumper and their front bumper prior to the accident.
Fault Through Police Reports
The other way to prove car accident fault after your car accident is through the use of police reports. It’s a wise move to obtain a copy of the police report prior to hiring a lawyer and taking legal action for the accident. The report is a great way to find out who the police officer at the accident cited for the cause of the accident.
It’s also a great way to find other car accident laws that the other driver got cited for. In instances where the other party or driver is at fault, the police report can end up becoming your greatest ally.
Odds are that the police report will contain both sides of the story. It will also include any observations made by the police officers that responded to the accident. If you can supplement the police report with testimonies from people that witnessed the car accident then you’ll have much better odds of winning your case in court.
Steps to Take After an Accident
There are certain steps that you should take after you’ve been involved in a car accident. Hiring a lawyer is a great idea, but there are other things that you should do prior to making that phone call that will help you prove your car accident fault. Here’s a closer look at the mental checklist that you should work through.
1. Stay Calm
Your adrenaline is going to be coursing through your veins after you’re involved in a car accident. You need to do everything within your power to remain calm after the accident occurs. Take a deep breath and focus on breathing in and out for a few minutes to get your body and mind calmed down.
2. Check for Injuries
Once you’ve calmed yourself down a bit you’ll want to check to see if you’ve sustained any injuries as a result of the car accident. If you find that you’re incapable of moving or you’re in severe pain then it’s a good idea to call 911 as soon as you can. Even if you’re not injured it’s still a good idea to call the police so that you’ll have an official report to provide to your car insurance company.
3. Assess the Situation
Take some time to get a better feel for the situation. If you feel that you’re still in immediate danger then it’s a good idea to remove yourself from the situation and find a safe location until law enforcement and first responders arrive.
4. Document Everything
If you have a smartphone or a camera with you and you’re able to move then it’s a good idea to document as much of the crash site as possible. Get pictures of your injuries, the damage to your vehicle, and pictures of the at-fault party’s vehicle. Try to get as many angles as possible as this will make it easier to prove car accident fault.
5. File a Claim
Once you’ve found an attorney near me and you’ve documented everything you’ll want to get ahold of your car insurance company. If you run into conflicting claims of who caused the accident then you’re better off letting the police handle things. Hiring a lawyer will help you get the best settlement from the insurance companies possible.
Now You’re Ready to Prove Car Accident Fault
Proving car accident fault doesn’t need to be a draining or confusing process if you know the car accident laws in your area. Even if you don’t, hiring a lawyer is a great move as they’ll know the ways to prove that the other party is at fault. Make sure that you document everything to make it easier to build your case, and don’t be afraid to contact the police after the accident so that you’ll have an official report.
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