After An Accident
A car accident can be a traumatic and life-changing experience that can alter the course of your life in an instant. From medical bills to the potential loss of a loved one, it’s important to take the necessary steps to ensure that you’re taken care of. Whether it’s as simple as calling up your insurance or a more complicated case that may wind up going to trial, Murphy, Falcon & Murphy has your back.
It’s best to get started immediately after the accident for the most thorough investigation and, therefore, the best chance of getting restitution possible. Here’s what to do in the moments and days following a car accident, step by step.
Immediately After The Accident
Immediately following the incident, you’ll first want to make sure that you and your passengers have not sustained any injuries that require immediate treatment. Your health and safety are the first priority. In Maryland, the police will likely be called to a collision and will take statements from witnesses and the involved parties. Tell them the truth of what happened as you understand it so that if the accident ultimately goes to trial, there’s thorough documentation for your lawyer to pull from stretching back to the date of the accident.
If the other driver leaves the scene before police arrive, they may have committed a hit-and-run. Give as much information as you can to the police so that they can be apprehended as soon as possible.
It’s also in your best interest to take photographs of the scene of the incident, collecting evidence for future use. Take pictures of the vehicles involved, as well as any skid marks or signs of damage. Speak with witnesses around the scene and get their contact information so that they can be called before a judge if eyewitness testimony is necessary.
After getting medical attention, speaking with police and witnesses, taking photos of the accident scene, and calling your insurance, it’s time to ask: What’s next? It’s important to know that you’re not alone and that there are resources available to help you move forward.
Work Out Insurance’s Role
Once you’ve gathered all of the information that you need about the accident, it’s time to start negotiating with both your insurance and the insurance of the other involved party. This can be an involved process and potentially resurface the trauma of the accident as you have to recite the events from memory. It’s important to be honest with your insurance company, as lying or misleading them can endanger your claim.
If you’re feeling uneasy or overwhelmed when dealing with your insurance company, you may want to consider getting in touch with a car accident lawyer. A reliable attorney will be able to communicate with your insurer on your behalf and leverage their extensive experience in similar legal situations to help you navigate the complex process. In other words, a lawyer worth their salt can take the burden of speaking to your insurance company off your shoulders.
In cases where the other party doesn’t have insurance, there may be some additional caveats. Murphy, Falcon & Murphy has a more in-depth guide about dealing with uninsured drivers, but here are a few key points to remember. You’ll want to carefully document the damage done to your vehicle and yourself and obtain as much information as you can about the uninsured driver.
It’s important to always get the other party’s insurance information after a traffic collision, as some injuries may not be evident right away. Don’t agree to any deals without insurance, as it could leave you responsible for covering any expenses further down the line. Getting the other driver’s contact and insurance information ensures that they are held accountable for any costs that may arise after the incident.
If insurance works out well, you may not need an attorney at all. But if the other driver’s insurance company is being uncooperative or offering a small settlement, you may want to consider hiring a car accident lawyer to represent you in court and argue on your behalf so that you can get justice.
Determine Who Is At Fault
Sometimes it can be difficult to determine just who is at fault in a car accident. These accidents happen quickly and can be disorienting, injuries notwithstanding. This is why gathering evidence from the scene is so crucial to pick up on what exactly happened. Even if you are partially at fault for the accident, you may still be able to recover damages — it might be tempting to rewrite the facts of the case and paint yourself as beyond fault, but it can harm your chances of getting what you deserve if you make false or misleading statements to your insurance or the police.
In some cases, the fault may not be easily determined by one driver or the other. When both drivers are at fault, or neither, the case may be decided by a judge in court. It is of utmost importance to have an experienced and knowledgeable car accident attorney in these situations who can make a compelling argument to the judge and present your story. With an attorney, you can rest assured that your case will be presented effectively and efficiently, helping you get the best outcome possible.
This is where a skilled auto accident lawyer like those at Murphy, Falcon & Murphy can come in real handy, as they can gather evidence to support your claim, calculate your damages, and prepare you for trial if it comes to the point where you need to prove that you weren’t at fault to receive an insurance payout.
Don’t Wait To File
If it looks like your case is going to come to a disagreement, such as if insurance is denying fault or acting in their own interest, it may be in your best interest to call a lawyer. After all, insurance companies often work for themselves rather than for you. It might be necessary to hire an auto accident lawyer who can get justice for you and protect your rights.
You only have 15 days to report a car accident that results in injury or death in the state of Maryland, so act quickly. Waiting too long to file will hurt your claim. After speaking with the police and your insurance, your very next call should be to a lawyer to determine if you need to take legal action. Murphy, Falcon & Murphy provides a free consultation service, and if you do have an actionable case, the earlier that you call, the better.
If you’ve been in an accident recently and need legal representation, don’t delay. We’ve fought for hundreds of Maryland residents in cases just like yours. Delve into our past case results and testimonials from clients who we’ve helped out. We’ll listen to your case, advise you on the best course of action, get you the best settlement possible, help you meet important deadlines, and make sure that nobody is taking advantage of you.
We have over 70 years of experience in Maryland law and a team that’s passionate and driven. We’ll fight for you and get justice. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you’ll only have to pay our legal fees when you win. If you believe that you need legal representation, call Murphy, Falcon & Murphy today to speak with a representative. We take you and your case seriously.
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