The London law firm of Pannone Solicitors asked if they could submit a guest post to this blog, and I agreed. Their article is interesting and informative, although the comments on property damage are not always correct in American law. I appreciate the post, and invite anyone with relevant material to submit guest posts to me.
Being in a car or motorbike accident can be an extremely stressful and traumatic experience. You could suffer from serious injuries, such as back or neck problems, and you might even have some broken bones or fractures to contend with from the incident. Furthermore, the added emotional impact of a traffic accident can be a painful experience as well. Therefore, it is important that you be aware of your legal rights following an RTA (Road Traffic Accident).
If you were in a car accident that was not your fault, it is possible for you to sue for damages that occur as a result of this incident. In addition to your injuries, you might miss time at work and rack-up costly medical bills. If this is the case, it is advisable to talk to a qualified personal injury lawyer to discuss your options.
Immediately following the accident, you should notify the police so they can file a report about the incident. Your attorney will need this report if you do decide to sue. If you do think you might be injured, you should automatically call for medical attention or get to the hospital as soon as possible to be checked over. It is also important that you keep all the records of any medical treatment that you receive following a crash. On top of this, keep all of your receipts and document the days that you missed work due to injury. If your case is to be successful your lawyer needs this documentation, so he can put a monetary value on the lawsuit. And if you have contacted legal representation it will be to ensure you receive the right level of compensation to cover any medical expenses, as well as loss of income as a result of your injuries.
However, it is probably not a good idea to discuss the accident, other than exchanging insurance details, with the other driver until the police arrive at the scene. Do not admit that the accident was your fault because you could incriminate yourself straight away. Instead, if you have a camera or phone, take pictures of the RTA and road conditions.
If and when you win your lawsuit, your compensation should cover any financial hardships that you have faced; however, it will not cover the cost to repair your vehicle. Therefore, you will need to contact your insurance company to get your car, van or motorbike repaired.
Being involved in an RTA can have a long and lasting impact on your life. So, you should want to make sure that you get the compensation you deserve, in order to move on with your life. By contacting an attorney they can help you decide whether or not you should pursue your case in the first place.
Sometimes after starting legal proceedings in this type of case the other party might want to settle out of court, to avoid extra publicity and having to attend court. If this is the case a lawyer can also assist you with this process.
Therefore, knowing your rights can help ensure you receive the justice you deserve following an RTA.
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