No matter who was at fault, being involved in a road accident is never any fun. No one goes out of their way to cause a crash on purpose. However, once a crash does occur, there is a legal process that jumps into action. You need to know what this means for you and how you can come out of the situation with a positive result. From a legal point of view, here is everything you need to know.
You’re Required to Stay at the Scene and Cooperate
When the crash has happened, you have a legal responsibility to do a few things. First of all, you have to stay at the scene of the crash. If you flee, this could later be interpreted as a hit-and-run offense, which is a very serious crime. You don’t want to go down that route, so don’t let that happen to you. Stay with the car, and call the police, as well as an ambulance if anyone might be hurt.
The incident must get reported to the police. While you’re still at the scene of the crash, you might also want to make a note of a few things and take photos. This could help your legal case later on. When the police do arrive, make sure that you cooperate with their investigations fully. If you don’t, this won’t help your legal case later on.
Your Legal Position as a Claimant After an Accident
Claiming another road user is a good idea if you think that they are to blame for what happened to you. There is nothing wrong with getting the compensation that you feel you deserve for what happened to you. Injuries, car repairs, and other traumas all come into play when you’ve been involved in a crash on the road.
You are fully within your rights to make a claim. But you will have to pay your legal fees, although these might be covered if your claim is successful. Finding an accident attorney is important because going it alone makes you more likely to be unsuccessful. Mounting a winning legal case is not as easy as it might look, so you probably won’t be equipped to take it by yourself.
Your Legal Position as a Defendant After an Accident
If someone has decided that they want to take legal action against you, they are saying that the crash was your fault. If you believe that this isn’t the case, you will need to prepare to defend yourself properly. That means getting a defense lawyer and preparing a case that will show that you were not at fault for what happened.
It’s important not to say anything at the scene of the crash that might be seen as an admittance of guilt. It’s recommended that you don’t even say sorry in case this is used against you in court later on. You have to be careful because many things can be used to prove your guilt, whether you are actually guilty or not. If you are found guilty, criminal proceedings might then get underway too.
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