Auto accidents can happen to anyone. You can protect your legal rights by taking the right steps after an accident occurs. The following list summarizes some of the steps you should take if involved in an auto accident.
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What to DO if you are in an automobile accident.
• DO CALL THE POLICE. A police report of the accident will aid your insurance claim and any liability claims. Note the officer’s name and badge number, and ask the officer how to obtain a copy of the accident report. If you do receive a traffic ticket, it does not mean you are guilty of a traffic offense or that you are responsible for the accident. Pleading guilty though, could very well hurt your claim for damages from the other driver. Consult your lawyer and insurance agent before pleading guilty to any traffic offense.
• DO GET MEDICAL ATTENTION RIGHT AWAY. Even if you feel O.K., the longer you delay seeing a doctor, the less documentation you have of your accident. It is best to go straight to the emergency room. It is likely that even if you don't feel pain at the scene, you will begin to "stiffen up" within an hour or two after the accident.
• DO GIVE THE DOCTOR A DETAILED HISTORY -tell the doctor exactly how the impact to your vehicle occurred and describe every injury.
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What NOT to do if you are in an automobile accident.
• DO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCIDENT EITHER WITH THE POLICE AT THE SCENE OR THE OTHERS INVOLVED. If there is litigation, things you say may be used against you. Although you may think the accident was your fault, you may find out later that the other driver was actually to blame, or you were both equally at fault.
• DO NOT SIGN ANY DOCUMENTS OR AGREE TO PAY ANY DAMAGES.
• DO NOT EVER DOWNPLAY YOUR INJURIES OR SAY YOU'RE "O.K." AT THE SCENE. Soft tissue and disc injuries often take hours to days to begin to really hurt. If you are asked, always say, " I think I'm hurt, and I plan to see a doctor to look me over." If you have any pain at all request that an ambulance be called to transport you to the nearest hospital. • NEVER GIVE A STATEMENT TO THE OTHER DRIVER'S INSURANCE COMPANY. It is best not to speak to them at all regarding your injuries until you seek the advice of an attorney.
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