About Car Accident Lawsuits
A driver must take reasonable care to avoid injuring anyone on the road. If the driver injures you because he or she has not taken reasonable care, the driver is responsible to you for the injuries; in other words, the driver is liable for the injuries. Most drivers don’t set out to cause a crash and injure someone; they do it because they were negligent, that is, they were careless or thoughtless and didn’t act like a reasonable person would.
If injuries from a car accident are minor, the auto insurance companies can usually resolve any claims for medical or property damage without legal action. The greater the damage or injury, the more likely it is to result in a lawsuit.
Since you won’t know at the time if the auto accident will result in a lawsuit, it’s important to always take certain steps right after an incident, whether you caused the accident or are the victim. First of all, call the police, and before you leave the scene make sure the police file an accident report. Call your insurance agent or company as soon as you can, from the accident scene if possible. Don’t talk with anyone except the police, your personal injury lawyer, and your insurance company about the accident, and don’t say it was your fault.
Get the names, addresses, and phone numbers for everyone involved in the crash--drivers and passengers. Get the make, model, and vehicle information number (VIN) of the other vehicle. Also get the name of the other driver’s insurance company.
An auto accident is very stressful, even if you are not badly injured. You may not remember what to do, so it’s a good idea to write the steps down on a piece of paper and keep it in your glove compartment. That way, all you have to remember after an accident is to get your list from the glove box. By taking these steps you will make it easier for your insurance company and your lawyer to handle your claim. Hopefully they can resolve it without a lawsuit, but if you do wind up taking legal action, the precautions you take and the information you collect right after the accident will help your personal injury lawyer win your lawsuit.
For more information on this and various other legal matters, it is best to speak with skilled semi-truck accident lawyers, motorcycle accident lawyers, product liability lawyers, wrongful death lawyers, medical malpractice attorneys, and other legal specialists. Our Kansas City personal injury attorneys are here to help.