Nobody wants to get into an accident. In the event that you or anyone you know gets involved in one, what do you do? At a certain point, everybody could get into an accident. It could be as small as a simple slip on a wet floor or something big like a car crash. Hopefully, none of these happens to you, but that is not always the case.
Even in a safe town like Kent, you may need to call a personal injury lawyer if you ever get into trouble. Here’s what you should do after an accident?
Preserve evidence
Assess the situation before you do anything brash. Take photos of any broken things or injured parts of your body, or have someone else do this for you if you are unable to do so.
As much as possible, try not to move anything from the scene until documentation is finished. It would also help you if law enforcement and medical services are there to formally take the evidence for you and assist you medically should you need it. You and your lawyer will need this evidence in the future should you file a lawsuit against another person or an entity responsible for your troubles.
Locate witnesses
Sometimes, evidence may not be enough. The opposing party might suggest evidence tampering in court. This is where witnesses will come in as the next line of defense. But you must remember that not all people will come to your aid. It might not be worth the trouble for them, and you should understand that they also want to avoid problems and any conflict. But if you can, persuade them to come forward and get them to tell their story of what happened.
This needs to be done immediately, though. People’s memories can fail on them and their testimonies might not be accepted in court. If you can and if available, look for multiple witnesses that can give a corroborative story that can support your case.
File a formal lawsuit
If you and your lawyer feel like you have more than enough evidence to support your claims, then you can file a lawsuit against the party responsible for the accident and the injuries or damages you incurred.
But do remember that all the necessary paperwork and evidence must be ready before you file a formal lawsuit. This will help speed things up and reduce any chances of additional appearances in court, as well as additional expenses. Make sure you alert the list of witnesses and their possible testimonies if you plan to file a lawsuit in court.
Seek an informal settlement
If you decide to settle things outside the court, an informal settlement can be more than enough to fix the damages in some cases. You will still need a lawyer for this one, but at least with an informal settlement, you can reduce the hassle for everyone involved by negotiating with the opposing party at your own terms. Your lawyer will be there to help you get a reasonable payment for the damages or troubles that were caused by your accident.
Nobody likes getting into trouble. Hopefully, with the information supplied in this guide, you will be more than ready to do the steps necessary if you ever find yourself in an unfortunate situation.