What to Do When You Are Involved in a DeKalb County Auto Accident
When DeKalb County motorists travel the roads throughout the area, they may presume that if they drive cautiously and focus on the road they will avoid accidents. While prudent driving is important, drivers have no control over other drivers who tailgate and speed, or drive while intoxicated or distracted.
When car accidents occur in DeKalb County, the actions that injured motorists take at the scene and in the aftermath of the collision can impact the injury victim's right to financial compensation.
At Montlick and Associates, our DeKalb County Auto Accident Attorneys have provided some suggestions for protecting your right to compensation when you are involved in a collision:
Avoid Discussing the Case: While the police officer may ask you what happened and you should cooperate and truthfully answer his or her questions, you should avoid discussing the facts surrounding the accident with the occupants of the other vehicle. Even after you are home, you should not discuss details of the accident with other people or on your Facebook page. The insurance company for the other driver will interview witnesses and may even obtain access to your Facebook posting looking for compromising evidence that may raise factual questions about fault and damages.
Preserve Evidence at the Scene: If you are not physically able to collect evidence at the scene of the accident, you should have someone close to you gather as much evidence as possible. This may include taking pictures to document your injuries and the position of the vehicles. Photos should also be taken of the damage to the vehicles and injuries to vehicle occupants. If there are obstructions that may have limited visibility, you should also try to get pictures that show the visual obstruction. Any debris from your vehicle should also be saved so that it can be inspected by an accident reconstruction expert, if necessary.
Follow Through on Medical Treatment: The physical effects of certain types of injuries are sometimes not immediately apparent, but it is important to be safe rather than sorry. If you suffer even minor symptoms, it is worth seeing a doctor who can run diagnostic tests to determine if there are more serious injuries. For example, some DeKalb County car accident victims who suffer head trauma do not feel particularly bad until pressure on their brain builds because of bleeding into the space between the skull and the brain. It is important to follow through on all medical appointments, outside referrals, diagnostic exams and physical therapy.
Consult with an experienced DeKalb County Auto Accident Attorney at Montlick & Associates as soon as possible who can take all required actions to protect your rights, and can can negotiate with the insurance adjuster. Many people attempt to negotiate directly with the insurance adjuster for the at-fault driver. Insurance adjusters may induce car accident injury victims to undermine their personal injury claim. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis so you should retain a law firm to protect you from potential hard dealing by insurance companies.
Montlick and Associates is available to provide effective legal representation to clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state.
No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.