Car accidents are common today, with thousands of cases reported in Australia each year. Thus, the probability of you getting in a vehicle accident, minor or major, is much higher. But what should you do in such scenarios?
The first thing should be to rush to a hospital for medical attention if you have injuries. If another person was injured, you should make sure they get quick help. The second thing should be to get the best car accident attorney, but this will depend on the nature of the accident. Here is why you will need a lawyer.
To Meet Legal Deadlines
There are deadlines that you must meet if you want to make claims after a car accident. In Australia, the period is usually three years after an accident occurs. However, some types of accidents, especially fatal and sensitive ones such as hit and run, might have shorter deadlines.
The specified deadlines after an accident might seem like a lot of time. However, delaying can be costly for you since you might be able to make claims. That is why you need to find and hire an attorney specializing in such accidents who know all the applicable policies and requirements.
The attorney will then use their expertise to ensure all deadlines are met, which increases your chances of getting compensation. They will also deal with the paperwork, which will give you peace of mind and enough time to recover if you got injured during the accident.
To Acquire and Preserve Evidence
Evidence determines whether you will get compensation or not. This is because they act as proof of an accident and also reveal who was in the wrong.
However, it is not easy to obtain evidence after several weeks or months after an accident. It is also difficult for you to gather all the evidence that might be needed right after an accident if you are not an expert. This is the reason you should hire someone with the knowledge and experience for the job. This is why you will need a car accident attorney, such as Smiths Lawyers.
The lawyer will take pictures of the damaged vehicle, take statements from witnesses, and request video footage from roadside cameras and those installed in nearby buildings. They can also take pictures of your injuries should they heal before the case is heard. The attorney will then preserve the evidence for later use, which will work to your advantage.
Thus, no matter what happens with the car or how long the case will take in court, you can be sure that there is well-preserved evidence somewhere that will work to your advantage.
In some instances, there just isn’t enough upside to working with an attorney during the claims process.
It is important, however, to have a high level of confidence that something unexpected isn’t going to happen. Once you sign off on an agreement, you’ll likely never have the chance to seek more money ever again.
It’s very rare but settlements could be reversed by a judicial order if it’s deemed the insurance company or defendant’s representative unjustly took advantage of a vulnerability of the plaintiff. This is a very strict standard and hard to prove.
Conclusion
You should hire a car accident attorney, such as the famous Smiths Lawyers, for two reasons. First, they will meet all legal deadlines, which will enable you to make claims receive compensation for damages. Second, the right attorney knows how to acquire and preserve evidence of an accident for future use.
