Anyone can be involved in a car accident, and statistics indicate the chance of a driver being involved in a car crash is not only possible but very likely at some point during one’s lifetime. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that there are over six million car accidents in the U.S. annually. Car accidents result in over 33,000 deaths and another 2.9 million people being injured. The estimated societal costs of motor vehicle accidents are $2OO billion per year.
Based on these statistics, it should come as little surprise that the typical Georgia resident will be in at least one auto accident during one’s lifetime. Despite the high probability of being involved in an auto accident, many people are not prepared when it actually happens. When a person is actually involved in a car accident, the accident victim is understandably often in pain and overwhelmed by shock and anxiety. It is the absolute wrong time to be considering what to do for the first time in the event of a car accident. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been representing Georgia residents who suffer serious injuries or wrongful death in Georgia car accidents for over a quarter of a century. If you are involved in a car accident that was not your fault, it is important that you take certain steps. An outline of steps you should take once an accident occurs is provided below:
Deal with Any Injuries: If you are injured, you should obtain immediate medical care even if you do not believe your injuries are serious. This will help ensure that your medical condition does not worsen and provide documentation of your injuries. You should also summon emergency assistance if anyone is injured and get anyone who is injured out of danger.
Do Not Discuss Details of the Accident: You should avoid discussing details of the accident with other drivers, passengers or witnesses. Even if you believe you are not at fault, the things you say may be used later by the insurance company or attorney for the other driver. You should provide information to the police who are summoned to the scene and truthfully answer questions, but do not discuss details of the accident with others on the scene.
Gather and Preserve Evidence: You should get the names and contact information of any witnesses and the contact information as well as driver’s license and insurance information for other drivers. You should also take photographs of the crash scene, any injuries or property damage, and the surrounding area. The more information you are able to gather and preserve, the easier it will be to establish that you were not at fault for the auto accident. This is important because if you are determined to be more at fault than the other driver you may not be able to obtain compensation for your injuries.
Get Legal Advice: While you may be correct in your initial assessment that you are not at fault for the Georgia car accident. The issue of who is at fault can be complex so it is a good idea to seek legal advice as soon as possible. Additionally, there are time deadlines that apply to all legal matters, and failure to take the required action before the deadline will result in the loss of your legal rights.
Our experienced auto accident lawyers are available to assist clients throughout Georgia and the Southeast.
