Top 7 Tips For Increasing The Odds Of Winning An Auto Accident Case

If you are ever in a car accident, it’s important to be as prepared as possible to increase the odds of winning your case. This means gathering evidence at the scene, getting witness statements, and consulting with an attorney as soon as possible. By following these tips, you’ll be on your way to getting the compensation you deserve for your accident in Perth.

1. Don’t Leave the Scene

One of the biggest mistakes you can make after a car accident is to leave the scene before getting all of your information and evidence straight. Car crash lawyers say that you should never leave the scene without waiting for the police or medical help, as it is punishable in Australia. So, if it isn’t safe for you to stay, wait until help arrives.

There are people at the scene who will want to help you, however, if someone says that they can handle everything or that it’s not necessary for you to wait for police, medical responders, or your attorney; then you might be getting taken advantage of. Make sure that you know your rights; this means knowing that it is important to wait for the police and your attorney before leaving.

2. Gather Evidence at the Scene

You want to get as much evidence from the scene of a car accident as possible, so make sure that you have a camera phone on hand, if possible. If not, then you should know that there are three different types of evidence that you can gather at the scene:

  • Physical Evidence  – Take pictures and videos of everything present in the accident, including injuries and damage to vehicles (if any). If someone has already taken your picture or video, ask for a copy. Also, make sure to get detailed statements from anyone who saw what happened, including eyewitnesses.
  • Medical Evidence  – Take pictures of your injuries, make notes on their severity, and consult with a medical professional right away about your injuries.
  • Expert Witness  – If you are ever in an accident in which you believe that the other party’s carelessness caused it, then consulting with a mechanic or engineer to explain how the driver’s carelessness caused your injury can greatly strengthen your case.

3. Getting Witnesses’ Statements

It is incredibly important to collect statements from anyone who saw the accident, as this will help tremendously with your case. They must be truthful, but it’s okay if they change their statement later, as long as you have the original.

It is also important to get statements from everyone involved in the accident, including other drivers, witnesses, and anyone who was helping you right after the accident occurred. This evidence can be really powerful when building your case.

4. Consulting With A Lawyer

Whether or not you are injured, it is a great idea to consult with a car accident lawyer at least once after an accident. This will give you more information on how the law applies to your specific situation and what legal options are available to you. You can also get more information on how to gather the evidence and what type of compensation you may be entitled to.

Also, the lawyer can keep you from incriminating yourself. If you speak to any insurance companies or law enforcement before consulting with a lawyer, you may be giving up vital information that can be used against you later.

5. Don’t Make Any Statements

Whether or not you are injured, it is important to remember that you should never give a statement to anyone, other than an attorney or medical professional, without your lawyer present. This means law enforcement, insurance adjusters, witnesses at the scene, and even doctors. If anything about your case can be misconstrued or lead to you giving up more information than you should, then someone could use that against you.

Also, if you give a statement and later discover that it doesn’t match up with someone else’s, then you can be charged with perjury. Make sure to always consult with your lawyer before giving any statements about what happened.

6. Seek Medical Attention

If there is any chance that you have been injured, then it’s important to get immediate medical attention from a medical professional. Even if all you feel are bumps and bruises, getting checked out can help strengthen your case later.

If you are injured, then make sure to take detailed notes on your injuries. Also, speak with a doctor about the severity of your injuries and if they will have any lasting effects or long-term problems. The severity of your injures can have a big impact on the compensation that you’re entitled to. For example, injuries that require extensive surgeries and long-term rehabilitation may result in a larger settlement.

Even if your injuries appear later on (such as bruises or pain), then it’s still a good idea to see a doctor. Not only can they check for more serious issues, but they can appoint you to a specialist or a therapist who can further strengthen your case.

7. Insurance Information

It is important to get all of the other driver’s insurance information. This may be in the form of a card or their license plate number, but it needs to be as accurate as possible (including insurance company and policy number). You can also take a picture of both sides of their driver’s license. If they don’t provide this information, then you can contact law enforcement to get the information that you need.

In case you don’t get their information, or they leave the scene, then you need to find out as much as you can about that person and contact your insurance company immediately. Your insurance company will need the main information and this can include other vehicle descriptions, license plate number, insurance policy number, and the insurance company if you have it.

The more information your insurance company has on hand, the better they can help you when figuring out your case.

Following these seven tips can help improve your chances of winning an auto accident case. Remember to consult with a lawyer as soon as possible, don’t make any statements without your lawyer present, and seek medical attention if you are injured. Make sure to gather evidence at the scene and get witness statements. By taking these steps, you can increase the odds of winning your case.