He Said, She Said Accidents: Do You Need A Lawyer?
When you get into a car accident and you and the other driver are the only ones for miles around, what do you do? Are you local, and can you call the police for help? Do you contact your insurance company, even if the hour is late? What about the other driver? If you go to court over the matter, will you need a lawyer? Such complicated matters in "he said, she said" accidents need to be resolved in the following way.
Call the Police
If you do have to go to court over this matter, you will need police records to show what happened. No police records means that the judge will have to use his/her best judgement on the matter to determine who is right, who is at fault (if applicable) and who is wrong. That is not a case you want to lose for lack of substantiated evidence. The police will find you, so long as you give them several land marks and an approximate location. Stay put and do not move your vehicles whatsoever, even if cars start showing up and backing up behind your crash site.
Call Your Insurance Company
Most car insurance companies now offer twenty-four hour hotlines for accident claims. Call them right away and file a claim. You can do this while you wait for the police to show up and document the accident.
Check on the Other Driver to Make Sure They Are Okay
If you have not done so already, check on the other driver to make sure he/she is okay. If tempers flare, get back into your vehicle and lock the door. Do not move your vehicle regardless of what the other person does or the police will not be able to effectively document the crash. If the other driver is not hostile, ask to exchange insurance information in case your insurance company asks for it.
Hire A Lawyer
Finally, if you do have to go to court over this accident, get a lawyer. Trying to navigate the laws surrounding a case where only two people are involved in an accident and there were no witnesses is a nightmare. You need a lawyer to drive home the important points and events in the accident/case if you expect to win your case. Going into court without a lawyer leaves you unable to properly defend yourself against what the other driver says, or what the other driver's lawyer has to say.
For more information, contact the Trammell and Mills Law Firm LLC.