You watch as another driver drifts into your lane. You immediately try to remove yourself from his path, but unfortunately, he ends up striking you. Now, you must deal with damage to your car along with life-disrupting injuries.
Fortunately, you have the right to seek compensation for the losses you incur in a motor vehicle accident resulting from another driver’s negligence in Colorado. Here is what you need to do immediately following your accident to protect your best interests long-term.
First steps at the collision scene
Once the car crash happens, it is critical that you remain at the collision scene to avoid hit-and-run criminal charges. While you are at the crash scene, it is a wise idea to check on each person involved and then call for medical care for anybody who requires it.
Next, contacting police is paramount, as the responding officer will record details about the accident. The officer may even indicate whom he or she thinks was at fault in the crash, which may prove helpful to you as you seek to establish the other driver’s liability in the accident.
Next steps following the collision
During your time at the car wreck scene, you may also want to gather the name, address and driver’s license number of the party who hit your motor vehicle. This person’s car insurance information is also important to obtain. However, during your conversation with the other driver, it is best to avoid apologizing for anything related to the crash. If you do, you might unknowingly be admitting liability for the injuries and damage resulting from the wreck.
In addition to speaking with the driver who struck your car, you might also want to speak to any accident witnesses. While speaking with them, you should ideally get their personal information as well, such as their names, phone numbers and addresses. Also, once you leave the collision scene, it is a smart idea to track all of the medical treatment you receive in connection with the collision. This includes keeping an account of all medications you’re prescribed, as well as the bills associated with this medical care.
Your rights following an injury-causing wreck
It is within your rights to seek the reimbursement of monetary damages if a careless driver injured you in a collision. If you are successful in your claim, you may receive a damage award that might help you to cover your health care expenses and even the loss of wages if your injuries prevented you from returning to work in a timely manner. An attorney can guide you through the process of filing your claim, ensuring to protect your rights at each step of the process.
