Hiring an attorney after a car accident is not always needed, especially if it is a small accident and it is obvious who is to blame. There are times, however, you may think you are to blame but are not entirely sure. In a case like this, you likely need to hire a car accident attorney. This type of attorney can also help you out with other situations that may come up. Keep reading so you will know what to do if you are in an accident.
Standard Procedure After a Car Accident
When you are in a car accident, you and the other driver will exchange contact and insurance information. You will need to contact your insurance company immediately and give them details about the accident. The other driver will also contact their insurance company and do the same.
Each insurance company will talk together to determine who is at fault for the accident. The insurance will then pay the innocent driver so they can get their car repaired. All of this is very simple, and in many cases, this would resolve everything quickly.
Do Not Admit Guilt
No matter how the accident happened you should not immediately admit guilt to the other driver. This is because you do not know what they were doing, such as driving without sleep, texting on their phone, or other types of distractions. While the drivers are giving statements, the at-fault driver may reveal what they were doing during the accident.
If you admit fault and then later on find out the other driver was at fault, this would hurt your case. The other driver's insurance company would likely refuse to pay you.
How an Auto Accident Attorney Can Help
If the insurance company states that you caused the accident, then you should contact an auto accident attorney from a firm like Bennett & Sharp PLLC. This is especially true if you do not have enough coverage to cover the car repair expenses of the other driver's car or if you were significantly injured in the accident.
The other driver may also have medical bills if they were injured in the accident and you would be reliable for this also. These bills would add up quickly, especially if they were put in the hospital. This could result in you losing things like your car, boat, or even your home. An attorney can prevent this from happening to you.
Share