In most cases, accident victims suffer emotional health issues such as stress and trauma. Accident victims suffer even more if they are not familiar with personal injury laws.
If you’ve been involved in an accident, talking to a personal injury lawyer can be crucial for understanding the laws that pertain to your situation. From car crashes to slip and falls, accidents can result in physical, emotional, and financial burdens that require legal navigation.
A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can guide you through the complexities of relevant laws, ensuring you understand your rights and options for seeking compensation.
However, there is a set of laws that help the victims navigate a car accident and make them know what to do if found in such a situation. Stick along for a more detailed review of what to do in case of an accident.
Let’s delve-in
Common Laws Every Accident Victim Should Know
Like in the majority of legal cases with rights and obligations, victims involved in a car accident have certain rights, as shown below.
- Right to a Copy of Evidence
Injured victims may find it difficult to search for their evidence due to injuries. Yet, some county laws still permit the making of a request for a police report, which contains statements of the parties and witnesses, the review of video footage, and accident reconstruction expert reports. Requests can be made online or at the investigating agency’s office.
Once the request has been made, it’s expected that we will get the report within due process time, and any delay should instigate consulting an injury attorney, who can also help expedite the process, in which case we may even require a court order to have such evidence. Acquiring access to evidence is necessary to be successful in an injury claim, and it is important to know your rights to have it so that the case can build up strongly.
- You Have a Right Not to Provide Written or Oral Statements
You are entitled to refuse to give oral or written statements to insurance companies. While you can share your account with the police, keep it simple and do not admit fault. Politely decline when insurers ask for a statement, even if it implies they are delaying processing your claim. Their goal often is a quick, minimal payout before consulting an attorney.
You must have legal representation when making official statements, wherein an attorney will guide you as to what you are obligated to say, preventing accidental admission of fault. Exercise your right to withhold statements in the hope of being treated fairly and acquiring legal advice.
- Right to Legal Representation
You have the right to legal representation when navigating a personal injury claim caused by a car accident. While you may be tempted to pursue the matter on your own, you must let an injury law firm guide you through it for optimal outcomes.
Having an attorney by your side is more likely to get you higher compensation, and the lawyer can also protect you from the aggressive tactics that most insurance companies employ. Therefore, you must exercise your right to seek professional legal assistance to have your interests and rights safeguarded throughout the claims process.
- Right to Get Compensation for Emotional and Physical Injuries
After a motor vehicle accident, the consequences continue to reverberate long after physical wounds have healed. The sufferer may experience enduring impacts on mental and emotional states as well. These may include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), although, for them, the impact is profound and far-reaching.
Fortunately, Georgia law gives you the right to seek compensation for these injuries. However, many accident victims remain ignorant of this entitlement and hesitate at times to reach out for legal help. However, a proper counselor who will help you understand and exercise this right should be consulted.
Using legal help, you will be in a position to claim medical bills, lost wages, decreased earning capacity, and pain and suffering. With professional assistance, you will get to know more about your claim and ensure that you get the complete compensation you deserve for both your physical and emotional injuries.
Final Thoughts
If you have ever been involved in a car accident, you will agree with me that the ordeal can be quite scary and confusing. However, that does not mean that you don’t have rights. Above are some of the rights you need to take into consideration to help you deal with accident cases. Most importantly, ensure you seek the services of an experienced lawyer to help you get compensation.
