If you ever have the misfortune of getting injured in a car crash in Tucson, you need to be aware of your rights and responsibilities. Unfortunately, accidents are common on Arizona roads, and almost one-third of them have awful consequences. When your damages are likely to be high, or you have suffered serious injuries, consulting a Tucson auto accident attorney can help. Personal injury lawyers can help in maximizing the settlement by bolstering your case with evidence. If you are physically capable of taking action, you need to follow the seven immediate steps listed below to ensure your well-being and protect your legal interests. To see more information, please see below.
- Get to safety. Check if it is safe to leave your vehicle or move it further away from other damaged vehicles. Stay away from your vehicle until the police arrive.
- Call the police. If there was death, injury, or considerable property damage involved, you need to call local law enforcement. Do not blame anyone and cooperate with the investigating officer. You can get a police report later, which will matter for your injury lawsuit (if you decide to take action).
- Seek medical attention. No matter who caused the accident, the safety and health of people should matter over everything else. If someone is injured, call 911 immediately. For your minor injuries, you can check with an injury doctor later.
- Document the scene. Take photos and videos of the accident scene to document everything. Take photos of your injuries and damaged vehicles. You need to collect physical evidence, if possible.
- Talk to witnesses. If there were witnesses to the accident, get their contact info. The police will talk to the witnesses, but if an officer hasn’t arrived at the scene, you can insist the witnesses to stay for a report.
- Inform your insurer. Arizona is a fault state. You will typically recover damages from the at-fault party’s insurer. In some cases, you may consider filing a claim with your insurer first. No matter the circumstances, inform your insurer at the earliest or within a reasonable time.
- Call an attorney. As we mentioned earlier, you need to talk to a car accident attorney to know your legal options. After an initial consultation, your attorney can guide you on the expected settlement, how to deal with the insurance representative, and gathering evidence.
Make sure that you hire an accident attorney who has represented clients at trial. You never know how the case may shape up, and you need expertise on your side.
