While you should definitely hire a car accident lawyer Hernando County FL to help you through the claim process, it’s not a good idea to assume your attorney will handle everything. From the moment the car accident occurs, there are things you should be doing, which will help your lawyer obtain a more favorable outcome for you.
The first thing you should do is to start collecting the names and contact information for those at the scene. This means obtaining information from the drivers of other vehicles, any passengers, and any witnesses to the accident. While talking to the drivers, keep conversations brief and to the point. Overall, it’s better to simply collect their names, contact details, and insurance information.
Taking pictures of the accident will be helpful as well. You should begin by taking general pictures of the scene, which may show the intersection, and any other points of interest that may have played a part in causing the accident. Be sure to get close-up pictures of damages to the vehicles and surrounding property that was caused by the accident. Finally, it may be helpful to get clear photos of the license plates of the vehicles involved.
When the police respond to the accident, they will begin filling out a report. There are two things you can do to help your case here. First, make sure you make an official statement. Sometimes, the police will take a statement from just one party, but that means their version is the only one on the official record. You want to make sure you get your version of the accident into the report, because that will make it easier to prove your claim.
Secondly, be sure to get a copy of that police report. It’s your right to obtain a copy, so it’s often just a matter of letting the officer know that you do want a copy. Once you have a copy of the report, you can review it to ensure everything is accurate. Your lawyer can also use the report to prepare your claim and it may be useful in preparing for a lawsuit, if the insurance company won’t settle.
Collecting this evidence will help your lawyer represent you more effectively. It will also save time time that your lawyer can better spend developing a negotiation strategy. The more you can help your lawyer prepare your case, the better your chances of obtaining a favorable settlement.