If any of your acquaintances has recently been involved in a car accident in Tampa, you must be aware of exactly what he or she has gone through – physical pain, shocking medical bills, lost wages and other costs associated with the recovery process. In a nutshell, an accident is equal to a big dent in your pocket. It is absolutely necessary to get the reimbursement for all medical expenses. To get your compensation you will have to file an insurance claim or file a personal injury lawsuit. For this, knowing who is legally at fault becomes essential, as typically the at-fault driver (actually his insurer) will have to pay for all damages caused by the accident. If more than one party is at fault for the mishap, different people (again their insurers) will have to cough up the money.
It does not matter whether one or more people are involved in the accident. to build up a case in your defense, you must collect evidence at the scene. If your current state of health does not allow you to do that, ask someone to come to the spot and assist you to fulfill the task. It is only natural that both parties will deny their roles in the accident, but a little presence of mind can help you accumulate as many circumstantial evidence as possible. The insurance company will ask for this information to determine whether the insured (their client) was at fault or not. The following tricks may come handy to build the case in your favor and get what you deserve, without much hassle:
Act Fast, Act Smart
The other driver’s admission of fault can give you the clean chit. At-fault driver’s (even if inadvertent) admission of guilt is included in police report, and the insurance providers take it into account while making their own reports. The offender’s admission of guilt makes invaluable evidence in the court. If you get the opportunity to strike up a conversation with the other driver, keep your smartphone ready and turn the voice recorder on. The moment he utters comments such as “I’m sorry I didn’t see you,” or “sorry for hitting you”, record the comment right away. This will help assign all or most of the blame on him. On your part, be careful not to utter any such words yourself.
Police Reports
Police report is the most important piece of document involved in an automobile accident. In the report, the enforcement officer states which of the drivers he thinks is at fault. Insurance adjusters and personal injury lawyers may give this piece of evidence great weight and therefore, it may be considered as the primary source of information. As the investigating officer hands you the report, go through it carefully. Request him to make the amendment if it contains any inaccurate information that may spoil your case.
Take Photos
Again wield your smartphone, this time to click photos of your damaged car. The location of the damage sometimes help experts understand how the accident occurred, and thus determine which of the drivers was at fault.
Use Traffic Citations to your Advantage
Your driving background, too, will come under scanner in determining your involvement in the accident. If your driving license speaks of too many incidents of traffic violation, you might be in a bad spot. But, if this is the case with the other driver, you might find yourself in a better position – his rash driving can be your passport to avoid the blame for the accident. Therefore make sure, the officer-on-duty includes those rule-break citations in the accident report.
Rising instances of car accidents in Tampa draws our attention to the importance of being more aware of the state and local traffic laws. Staying informed will let you take control of the situation if, god forbid, any such tragedy strikes. And if it does, keep your cool, gather all the evidence, and visit a car crash doctor.