Statistically, almost every driver will have at least one accident over the course of their driving career. What happens in the immediate aftermath, the decisions they make, will have a huge impact on the viability of any legal case. Even if something was overlooked, complying with this list as much as possible and talking to the best car accident attorney in Kansas City is still a good idea.
Go to the Hospital
Even if you do not feel like you are injured, you should still go to the hospital if the accident warrants police involvement. Getting checked out medically serves several purposes:
- It gets immediate medical needs addressed
- It creates the environment for addressing injuries that emerge over time
- It gives you time to collect your thoughts before talking to anyone about what happened
- You cover the basis in terms of any medical claim you might have with an insurance company
Talk to the Police
Some people balk at talking to law enforcement after an accident. Sometimes that is because they feel what happened in terms of cause and liability with the accident is obvious. Not discussing what happened with the police is a mistake because it means only others involved in an accident get their account on record.
If you go to the hospital your discussion with the police will likely be delayed, but make sure you have that discussion. Even if you are the negligent party, your account can influence how an officer thinks about their investigation. They also likely will be a witness, at least as it pertains to their investigation; you want to have them tell a jury you were as cooperative as possible.
Seek Legal Counsel
Believe it or not, your cousin who took pre-law or that internet web site that breaks down legal issues does not substitute for an attorney. As soon as you can after an accident, discuss the incident with a car accident attorney, if for no other reason than to consider whether legal action is something you want to pursue.
Do Not Apologize
The worst thing you can do in any type of negligence case is apologize. Anyone who hears it will mention it in court if asked and they likely will not provide any context regarding what you meant at the time. A defense attorney will use an apology against you to show that you understood you were responsible for the accident.
From the time the accident occurs until all legal processes have concluded, do not apologize for anything.
It goes without saying that in addition to this advice, you should only discuss the accident with your car accident attorney in Kansas City. This advice in total will put you in a good position should you pursue a lawsuit.graph text here.
