Do I Need to Call Law Enforcement If I Am in an Auto Accident?

If you’ve been in a car accident, regardless of if it’s something major or minor, calling the police as soon as possible and requesting their assistance helps your accident and personal injury case greatly. Why? Here are just a few reasons:

•       Police create a police report that lists the date and time of the auto accident

•       That report lay out the personal injuries just after the wreck for all involved

•       It also lists the property damage to the cars involved in the car accident.

•       The reports explains what happened at a time closest to when the accident occurred.

This information is vital for down the road should you want to sue for your personal injuries or the driver of the other vehicle desires to sue you. Car accidents can cause injuries later, such as back and neck pain and that’s why it’s vital to have what documented as early as possible. It will help you auto accident claim and it also will protect you should the other driver attempt to alter the facts of the car wreck to their advantage later.

Talking with Police after an Auto Accident

Calling the police after an accident, isn’t important just for your case, it’s also the law. But what you say to law enforcement is also important as what you say may work to your benefit or detriment later.  Do not give an opinion, especially if that opinion is that you may have done something that led to the car wreck. North Carolina is a contributory negligence state, meaning if you’re even 1% at fault, you don’t recover. Our personal injury lawyers in Greensboro see this situation play out all of the time in courtrooms throughout North Carolina. Also, auto accidents can lead to criminal charges and infractions if you’re not careful. What you say can and will be used against you.

For instance, if the other driver were to later see that you admitted to fault, they will most likely use that against you later when they sue you for their injuries. Our personal injury attorneys in Greensboro see this happen a lot, and if you admit to something it make it extremely problematic down the road if you end up injured and need insurance to pay for it. Your statements may be played back for you again and again in a personal injury lawsuit if you’re not careful.

Conversations with your Insurance Company after a Car Accident

The other important group to bear in mind after an auto accident is your insurance company. They are not talking with you to help you because either way they have expenses when a car crash occurs. Never say anything that involves you being at fault for any part of a car accident to an insurance representative. There are only a few details you need to provide:

•       What time the auto accident happened

•       The place the car accident occurred

•       Your personal injuries from the car wreck

•       Damage your vehicle received from the accident

•       The number the police use for your accident case

Speaking with the Other Driver’s Insurance Company after a Car Wreck

Don’t speak with other person’s insurance company after an auto accident. They are definitely against you and attempting to ask you questions in ways to get you to state you were at fault. Don’t speak with them and instead contact an experienced car accident lawyer at Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Olson, Attorneys at Law. Once you’ve come in and met with our personal injury attorneys in Greensboro and the other insurance company calls, you can mererely state I have an attorney and for them to contact our law firm. A top rated personal injury lawyer, at Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Olson, will protect your rights, and also focus on making sure if you have the opportunity to recover for the auto accident, that recovery is maximized.