All drivers get immensely frustrated with the flow of traffic. Drivers might be too busy watching what’s happening in front of them that they forget about the car next to them or behind them. They drive quickly and react slowly. That’s when you get “accidents.”
These accidents are more often than not a result of some form of distracted driving. It can be something as simple as reading a map, talking on the cell phone, using the radio controls / changing CD function,/applying make-up tasks while trying to concentrate on what’s going on around you. In this article, let us look at how you can defend your rights after getting involved in a distracted driving accident.
Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer
First and foremost, do not sign any documents without speaking with a personal injury lawyer. If you’re involved in a distracted driving accident in Pasadena where it appears that the other person is at fault, they will offer to settle for less than what your claim is worth. Just because they provide this settlement does not mean that you should take it. When speaking with the insurance adjuster, be friendly and tell them that you want to talk with a lawyer before signing anything. They will often back off or request that you provide them with a number of an attorney before continuing this dialogue.
Contact The Police
Another essential step to take is to contact the police and file an official report. Even if you were not hurt, it’s still vital that they make a record of what happened. In most states, the other driver will probably be charged with distracted driving or something similar due to their negligent actions. It would be best if you also remembered to ask for the names and badge numbers of all officers involved in this situation, as well as any witnesses who could help your case.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Once you have spoken with the police and your lawyer, contact your insurance company to let them know that there has been an accident. If you are not at fault, then it’s likely that they will come to this conclusion themselves. Let them know what happened, and be prepared to provide any documentation/pictures/witness statements that may help support your claim. This might include cell phone records, for example, if you were talking on the phone at the time of the accident. You won’t always access these documents right away, so do your best under these circumstances.
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Visit Your Doctor for a Full Medical Evaluation
Lastly, visit your doctor as soon as possible after getting involved in this accident. This is because you might not feel the full effects of any injuries until days or weeks later. You could be suffering from whiplash, for example, and not notice it until a few days after an accident where you were hit from behind and sent hurtling forward over the dashboard. So don’t risk it, and see a doctor so that you can protect your right to file a personal injury claim should you need to do so down the road.
Document Everything
The most important thing that you can do is document your claim. Fill out the accident report, take pictures of the damage to your car, and if possible, try and get some video footage of what happened as well. If somebody witnessed the accident, ask them for their testimony, which might help your case considerably. Finally, be sure to write down everything that you remember about this incident, even if it’s a little hazy or seems too inconsequential at first glance. The more documentation you have on hand here will make a difference when arguing your case in court.
Never Sign Anything Without Speaking To A Lawyer
Lastly, never sign anything without speaking first with a personal injury lawyer. The other party involved in this situation will want you to sign some document that says you won’t make any future claims. Just because they ask doesn’t mean you should do it unless you have spoken with an attorney first and know what this document is and what impact signing it might have on your right to file a claim later on down the road.
Distracted driving is a severe problem on our roads. Even if you’re not driving distracted, somebody else might be, and they could get into an accident with you. In the worst-case scenario, this could end up being a fatal car crash that causes you or somebody else to suffer from serious injuries or even death. If this happens, you should know what to do to protect your rights after getting involved in a motor vehicle accident.
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