Getting into a car accident is something that can happen to a lot of people, whether it’s their fault or not. In these modern days, people are required to travel by car almost all the time, meaning that the chances for such an unfortunate event to take place are increased by quite a lot.
When it comes to car accidents, the most important thing is that you end up without any serious injuries, but the story doesn’t end there. After something like this happens, both parties need to talk with the police and give their reports, or should we say, their sides of the story.
After all, this is done, there are two possible endings. You’ll either manage to find common ground with the other person, or there will be a conflict that will most likely end up in the courthouse.
In this article, we are going to help you learn what you can do if the other person sues you after the car accident. If you are currently in a situation like this, or you’re just curious to learn some more just in case, feel free to read until the end. Let’s take a look.
1. Measure the possible outcome
In many of these situations, the one participant tries to sue the other one because they want their damage covered, even though they are not completely right, or innocent. However, even if it was all their fault, you still shouldn’t relax completely, because with a good lawyer, they might somehow manage to beat the case.
Often, these reactions are fueled by emotions, but if someone decides to sue you, they’re going to do it, and you need to be ready for it.
We suggest getting a lawyer in such a scenario, even if you think that the accident wasn’t your fault at all. How much you need to be worried will depend on how sure you are in the evidence that you have, which can be used in the court-room.
If you have a lot of witnesses who claim that the unfortunate event was the fault of the other participant, and they are all willing to be present during the judgment, then maybe you won’t need a lot of help from an attorney. Measure the outcome and bring the right decision for yourself.
2. Consult with an advocate
It’s alright to be afraid and inexperienced with these things. It’s not an everyday sight to be in a traffic accident, therefore you shouldn’t worry too much about not knowing what step to take next.
However, some people specialize in things like these, and they’ve dedicated their entire lives to helping those who lack the experience and skill to deal with such situations.
If you are looking for someone you can talk to, and you’re strictly looking for professional help, from someone who specializes in such cases, you can always contact the Law Offices of A. Randolph Hough.
Most of the time, what a professional will suggest is the right thing to do. Thankfully, there are a lot of people who can help you in a tough situation like this one, so don’t be afraid to reach out.
3. Gather all the possible evidence
The more evidence you have, the better it gets for you. As we already mentioned above, witnesses are the best form of evidence that you can have, so if you have any friends or family members who participated in the accident, or they were near it when it happened, ask them to give out their report to the police. Nothing can save you more than multiple people speaking the truth in your name to the judge.
4. Prepare a small budget
In times like these, you never know if the case is going to be won by you or the person trying to sue you. Either way, you will need a small budget for financing your attorney, or for paying any penalties if you end up losing the case.
Make sure that you know exactly how much you need for your advocate if you end up taking that route. Of course, speaking with them will yield the most valuable information, but you can still compare prices from multiple lawyers before hiring one.
5. Try to negotiate
You can try to speak with the other person who’s trying to press charges against you and try to solve the problem in a less problematic way. You can try to negotiate and find common ground if you are lucky enough. Simply explain that taking things to the courtroom is going to cost more for both of you, and their chances of winning are not even guaranteed.
If you know that you’re faulty of the accident, let them know that you’ll cover all the expenses and try to find the best way to do it. If you’re nice and polite, and the other person has the understanding and patience, you might be able to work something out. It’s in the interest of both parties to solve things without going to the judge.
6. Find the best lawyer
Some lawyers are famous for being able to defend certain cases, but not all of them specialize in car accidents. You might think that a lawyer is a lawyer and that it doesn’t matter which one you’ll end up choosing, but that’s quite wrong.
If you want to maximize your chances of beating the other person in the court-room, you must pick someone who specializes in these types of accidents. They might charge more, but if you win, you won’t have any financial issues, because all the penalties will have to be paid by the other person.
Conclusion
Getting into a traffic accident is quite common, and thousands of them happen almost every day across the world. However, if you do end up getting in one, there are some important steps that you need to take, especially if the other person threatens to press charges against you. Finding the best lawyer who specializes in something like this is probably your best option, but feel free to read our other tips if you are in a similar situation.