Lincoln, AR Car Accident Lawyer
From minor car accidents to life-altering ones, victims often suffer costly damages for which they are not responsible. When a negligent driver hurts you in Lincoln, our lawyers can help you hold them accountable in a legal claim.
While you might try your best to avoid dangerous drivers on the road, accidents are sometimes unavoidable. The key is to be prepared and know what to do after one happens. Report your crash immediately after it happens so that the police can investigate and record the details. Before going to the hospital, which should be your next stop from the scene, take photos of the scene and your injuries. This will preserve crucial evidence for later and will help elevate your case above your word against the other driver’s. Our team will organize this evidence and help you file before the filing deadline closes.
For a free case review with our car accident attorneys, contact us today at (479) 316-0438.
What to Do Following Your Car Collision in Lincoln, AR
Car accidents are a common enough occurrence that it makes sense to be prepared in case you are ever injured in one. You might find yourself needing compensation, even if it was a minor accident, and need to file a claim against the other driver. By taking a few steps that our car accident attorneys recommend, you will be well on your way to recovering the damages you need for your recovery. You should follow this advice regardless of if you feel injured in the crash, as you will not know exactly what damages you have at the start of the incident.
Immediately Report Your Accident
The first step to take after getting hit is to call 911 for emergency help immediately. If your injuries are not too bad and you are still on the road, move out of traffic so that a secondary collision does not occur before you call. The police and paramedics will be dispatched, both of which you should take help from. The police will interview you and the other parties regarding what happened, potentially issue tickets, and note observations about the scene in their report. Paramedics can render aid on the scene before transporting you to the hospital. You might worry that the ambulance will be expensive, but these costs will be included in your claim. If you do not accept care or go to the hospital, it could end up costing you much more in the long run.
Collect Evidence While Still on the Scene
You will likely have a little time before emergency services arrive, which you can use to gather evidence that might not be available later, like the wreckage of the scene. Car accident sites get cleaned fairly quickly so that they do not cause further danger. If you do not take pictures of the damage to the vehicles, debris, or tire marks on the asphalt while still on the scene, you might not have that visual evidence available later. Thus, use your smartphone to take as many pictures as you think will be relevant to your claim later.
You can also use this time to speak to the other driver and any witnesses who stopped to offer help. Keep it brief when speaking to the other driver since you will likely be fighting them in your claim soon and do not want anything you say used against you. The accident scene is not the place to determine liability. Even a simple “I’m sorry” can be construed as an admission of guilt. Just exchange contact and insurance information and wait for the police. If eyewitnesses remain on the scene, you can speak to them about the accident, but stick to what they saw and ask for their contact details, and we can call them after filing your claim.
Continue with Your Medical Care
The one step you cannot overlook if you hope to recover compensation for your car accident damages is getting medical care. You need evidence to show that you were actually injured, what the extent of those injuries are, and what treatment your healthcare providers recommend to recover fully. If you do not get medical treatment immediately after the crash or have gaps in your continued care, it will jeopardize your claim.
After the accident, go to the emergency room. Do not go to an emergency care center if it can be helped, as they do not have the range of equipment to assess you that an emergency room will. If you do not want to take an ambulance from the scene, that is fine, but you still need to go directly to the hospital. Taking even a few days to see how things shake out before getting care calls into question the seriousness of your injuries.
Your treatment plan will depend on the injuries you suffered in the accident. Whatever it calls for, be sure to follow it totally. However, our team will gather and prepare your records for your claim, so just focus on your health and make every appointment.
When You Must File a Claim for a Car Accident in Lincoln, AR
Following the above advice is critical because it will keep you on track and help ensure that you file your claim before the statute of limitations closes off compensation. According to Ark. Code. § 16-56-105, you have three years from the date your collision occurred to file your lawsuit. Three years can go by much faster than people realize, especially when treating serious injuries. This rule leaves little room for error. If you file after the limitations period is over, you cannot cover any of your losses in a legal claim.
However, the driver might have lied about their contact information because they knew they were at fault and wanted to avoid a lawsuit. § 16-56-120 would prevent that time from counting against you.
Call Our Lincoln, AR Car Accident Lawyers for Support Today
Call us at (479) 316-0438 for your free case assessment with our car accident lawyers.