The Do’s And Don’ts After A Car Accident
Every year, thousands of Marylanders are injured in car accidents. Being involved in a car accident can be stressful and overwhelming. Knowing what to do after a car accident is important for protecting yourself and your legal rights.
If you were involved in a car accident, you need to understand what steps to take and what you should not do following the crash. Our Baltimore car accident attorneys at Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP can guide you through the aftermath of your crash and ensure that you receive the best possible outcome in your legal case.
The Do’s and Don’ts After a Car Accident in Maryland
Here are some do’s and don’ts that you should keep in mind after being involved in a car accident.
The Do’s
- Call the police. It is important to call 911 immediately after a car accident. However, motorists in Maryland are not required to report all crashes. Under Maryland Transportation § 20-107, drivers must report motor vehicle crashes that result in injury or death. If you call 911, the police will come to the scene and take a report which can be used if you file an insurance claim or take legal action.
- Exchange information with other drivers. Make sure you get all of the other driver’s contact information, including their name, address, phone number, license plate number, and insurance company information. You will also want to document the make and model of each vehicle involved, as well as any witness contact information at the scene who may have seen what happened.
- Take pictures. To help support your case if you decide to pursue legal action or file an insurance claim later on down the line, it is crucial that you take pictures of any damage done to your vehicle or any visible injuries that may have been sustained by those involved at the time of the accident.
- Seek medical attention. Even if there are no visible injuries that were sustained at the time of an accident, it is still very important to seek medical attention right away, as some injuries may not become apparent until days or weeks after an accident has occurred.
The Don’ts
- Admit fault. It is important not to admit fault at any time while at the scene of an accident or when speaking with any representatives from either party’s insurance companies, as this could end up hurting your case later on down the line if you decide to pursue legal action.
- Leave without getting all the necessary information from other drivers. As mentioned above, having all of this information will be crucial if you choose to pursue legal action or file an insurance claim against another driver involved in the accident.
- Ignore symptoms of injury. Even if there are no visible signs of injury following an accident, it is still important to seek medical attention right away, as some injuries may take days before they become apparent or symptomatic following the crash.
- Reconstruct events leading up to the crash on your own. When talking with police officers or representatives from either party’s insurance companies, it is important not to try and reconstruct events leading up to a crash as this could negatively affect your ability later on down the line if you decide to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against another party involved in the incident. It is best to contact an attorney to help you investigate your crash and gather the necessary evidence to support your claim for compensation.
Following these do’s and don’ts after being involved in a car accident can help make sure that individuals get all of the necessary documentation they need while also avoiding doing anything that might hurt their case going forward should they choose to pursue legal action later on.
Protect Your Legal Rights with Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP
It is essential for individuals who have been involved in a car accident to know what steps they need to take in order to protect themselves legally and medically. Speak with our knowledgeable and detail-oriented attorneys at Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP to navigate your legal options after a car accident in Baltimore or other parts of Maryland. Call 800-248-3352 to get a free case review.
