5 Steps To Take After An Auto Accident: A Guide To Handling The Unexpected

Published on: 19 July 2023 Last Updated on: 06 November 2024

Getting yourself involved in an auto accident might be a distressing experience. However, it’s essential to remain calm and further take necessary actions to ensure your safety and protect your legal rights after an accident. By following a structured approach, you can navigate the aftermath of an accident more effectively.

In this article, we will outline five crucial steps you need to take post an auto accident to help you handle the situation with confidence and care.

Safety First, Always

The first priority after an accident is the protection of everyone involved. Assess the situation and, if possible, take your vehicle to a much more secure location far from the crowd. Turn on hazard lights along with creating flares or warning triangles to warn other drivers. Check on the well-being of passengers, drivers, and pedestrians and call emergency services if medical attention is required.

Contact Law Enforcement As Well As Exchange Information

In most cases, it’s crucial to contact law enforcement officers and disclose the accident details. Dial the emergency services hotline or the non-emergency police line to inform them of this incident. While you wait for their arrival, exchange data in case other parties are involved. Procure their names along with other relevant details like license numbers of the drivers, license plate numbers as well as insurance data. If there were witnesses, ask for their contact information as well.

Document The Accident

Gathering evidence is essential for insurance claims and potential legal proceedings. Use a camera or your smartphone to click pictures of the spot where the accident took place from various angles. This might include damaging the vehicles, road conditions, and of course, skid marks.

Note down important details like the time, date, location, weather conditions, and/or significant factors that may have contributed to the accident. These records will assist you when Steps To Take After An Auto Accident.

Make The Concerned Insurance Firm Aware

Promptly make the insurance company aware of the accident. Offer them accurate and comprehensive information about what transpired. They will inform you everything about the claim process, including any necessary paperwork. It’s important to adhere to the reporting deadlines outlined in your insurance policy, as late reporting may result in claim denial. You must completely cooperate with your insurance agency during the investigation.

Ask For Medical Attention And Legal Guidance If Needed

Even when you think you haven’t suffered any serious injuries, it’s advisable to seek medical help after an accident. Some injuries may not be immediately apparent, and a medical evaluation can identify underlying issues. Additionally, if you experience any ongoing pain or complications, consult a personal injury lawyer, further specializing in auto accidents. When you want guidance on legal matters, help to protect your entitlements, and assistance with any potential legal claims, they are the ones to trust.

Being indulged in an auto accident is no less than a stressful and overwhelming experience. However, taking the appropriate steps in the aftermath is crucial for your safety, well-being, and legal protection. Remember to prioritize safety, contact law enforcement, exchange information with other parties, document the accident scene, notify your insurance agency, and seek medical help if necessary. By following these steps, you can navigate the aftermath of an auto accident more effectively and ensure a smoother claims process.

Read Also:

How To Pick The Best Florida Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Abdul Aziz Mondol

Abdul Aziz Mondol is a professional blogger who is having a colossal interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, he loves to share content related to business, finance, technology, and the gaming niche.

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Do I Need A Redundancy Solicitor? Then What Is That?

Before we get to know why it might be necessary to hire a redundancy solicitor, it is much more important to know who is a redundancy solicitor and why you might need one. When I say Redundancy, it is among the limited numbers that have the potential for fair reasons while dismissed from work. This happens when the employer is required to decrease the workforce and also close the business premises. So now, if you get dismissed from work for a reason of redundancy, then you are entitled to a few statutory rights, including a redundancy payment. Now that you know what is a redundancy solicitor, let’s get into why you might need a solicitor and for what purpose. Why Would I Need A Solicitor When Being Made Redundant? There are certain situations when you might need a redundancy solicitor, so let’s get to know these situations. You might suspect that you are not in a redundancy situation. You might suspect that your selection is unfair. You might suspect that the procedure that your employer followed is incorrect. It is possible that a settlement agreement has been offered to you. You might have been as to become a volunteer for redundancy. You might not be sure whether you are getting the full redundancy package. These are a few instances where the need for redundancy solicitors might be of great assistance. Related: How A Solicitor Can Help You To Set Up A Business What Are The Circumstances Of A Genuine Redundancy? A redundancy is to be considered if the following are maintained: Suppose the whole business is closing temporarily or maybe permanently. It is possible that a particular workplace you are working in is either closing or maybe moving to another location. Suppose the job you have ceased to exist or has diminished, or maybe you are expecting your job to cease to exist or diminish in the future. This will happen if your employer is considering certain restructuring in the workplace. The redundancy is not to be considered to be genuine if the following happens: Suppose your employer is replacing you with someone else, maybe with someone with someone who is willing to work for less amount. It is possible that the business is about to transfer its ownership, and maybe the new owner is going to employ you on totally different employment terms. It is more likely that the latter will become a Transfer of Undertaking (TUPE) situation. Before you apply for this, it is better to get legal advice, or you might be in trouble since it is a grey area. An Employer That Has Not Followed A Fair Procedure In an ideal world, the employer’s redundancy process should have a set employment contract or handbook in place. Now what your employer should do is look for redundancies that can be avoided quite easily. Certain ways you can avoid redundancies are: Your employer can ask you to volunteer for a redundancy or even opt for an early retirement. The employer can also choose to lay off the employees who are self-employed. The employer can choose to ban or reduce any overtime. Your employer can offer you to get alternative work. Now if your employer still wants to proceed toward redundancy, then they should really identify the certain employees who are to be made redundant. But the selection should be made in a fair way. While selecting the employees, there are a few characteristics that should not be considered as the selecting factors, they are such as gender, ethnicity, or any such discriminating factor. The selection criteria that are to be considered fair and impartial are: Aptitude Skills Qualifications Performance Record/Discipline Attendance Now depending on these selection factors, the employer has to consult with these candidates; if they don’t, then the redundancy will be considered to be unfair as well. At least one meeting with the employer is important to discuss every aspect of this situation. Well, suppose your employer has selected over 20 candidates for redundancy, in that case, a special rule is applied that the candidates need to follow through. You should also be given a proper notice period to prepare yourself. The notice period should be like this: 1 week notice if you have been working in the organization for between one month and about two years. 1 week's notice for each of the years the employee has worked in the company ranging between 2 to twelve years. Lastly, 12 weeks of total notice period; if the employer has been working in the company for over 12 years. Which Is Better, Being Offered A Redundancy Package Or A Settlement? Well, now, suppose you have been working in a company or organization for over two years; then, you are entitled to a statutory redundancy payment as well. For this, the specific calculation goes something like this. About 5 week’s payment is given to employees who have worked a full year after their 41st birthday. About a week’s worth of payment is given to employees who have worked a full year after their 22nd birthday. About half a week’s worth of payment is given to employees who have worked a full year till their 22nd birthday. The total length of your service is capped at 20 years. Then your weekly payment is averaged over what you earn per week over a 12-week period till your redundancy notice. Read Also: Breaking Down The Complexities Of Surrogacy And Assisted Conception Laws In The UK Preparing For Your Initial Consultation With An Immigration Lawyer Choosing The Right Conveyancing Solicitors For You

Along for the Ride: Passenger Rights in Vehicle Accidents

Although we are aware of the risks, driving is just a routine activity many of us do automatically, like brushing our teeth or grabbing a cup of coffee. We climb in the car intent on the destination or lost in thought, which is why automobile accidents are so jarring. Even a mild fender bender seems to stop everything in its tracks, instantly negating the importance of everything we were thinking or saying. Whether the situation results in serious injuries or none at all, it demands immediate attention. Passersby jockey to catch a glimpse of something interesting; police officers fill out reports; tow trucks haul away damaged cars. Sometimes, there aren’t even minor injuries, but, obviously, not everyone is so lucky. Trusting ourselves is one thing. Trusting someone else is entirely different. Every time someone gets into a passenger seat or the back seat, they're trusting that the driver will get to the destination safely. Some passengers are happy not to have the responsibility of driving; others have a hard time giving up control. Regardless of your feelings, where does that leave you if you're injured in a vehicle accident? The accident certainly wasn't your fault, so what exactly are your rights as a passenger? Recovering for injuries suffered as a passenger in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident is really a claim against an insurance company rather than against the driver himself. Passengers can file a claim under the bodily injury or liability insurance coverage of the driver or owner of any vehicle responsible for causing the accident. If that is insufficient, there may be coverage available under uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist policies. Injured passengers are also allowed to file a claim under their own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and/or Medical Payments (Med Pay) policies. With all these funding possibilities, passengers should be able to secure compensation for their damages, though in no instance are they allowed to collect any more than the total value of their claim. Many passengers are initially reluctant to seek compensation for damages because the driver is a close friend. It’s important to note that in most situations, the driver will not even know of the claim because it will be settled by lawyers and insurance companies before it gets to trial. The strain on any personal relationships should be minimal unless the insurance company does not act in good faith to resolve the claim and it must be litigated instead. Even at that time and although the driver will be named in the lawsuit, the true conflict is between the driver’s insurance company and the passenger. There are special rules that apply when the passenger is related to the driver and shares the same household. In most of these cases, the passenger is barred from collecting under the driver’s liability policy because he or she is an “insured person” and such persons are not permitted to file a liability claim against their own liability policy. A claim can still be brought against other drivers who are at fault for the accident. Read also: TIPS TO KEEP YOUR KIDS SAFE IN A CAR The seat next to the driver has a reputation for being the most dangerous one in the car, even having been referred to as “the death seat.” Of course, it is more common to have one passenger than several, so the front seat is occupied more frequently than the rear seats. There is also some truth to the idea that in a crash a front seat passenger has nothing to stop him or her from being ejected through the window, whereas the driver has the steering wheel. Or, at least, that used to be the prevailing line of thought. The last few decades have brought about major advances in safety that have reduced the probability of being seriously injured while riding in the front seat. Seat belts, airbags, and crumple zones equally benefit drivers and front-seat riders. According to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, adults over age 55 were more likely to die in a crash while seated in the back than in the front – even if they were wearing seat belts. The study found that adults in the rear were more likely than adults in the front to sustain chest injuries, and there was some evidence of an elevated risk of head and neck injuries for restrained women seated in the rear compared with the front. The IIHS also recently performed front-overlap crash tests of seven small SUVs and found that certain models may have a big gap in safety between drivers and their passengers. The seven models received good ratings after the front driver's side corner of the vehicle hit a barrier at 40 miles per hour, but only one model – the 2016 Hyundai Tucson -- rated as good when the same test was performed on the front passenger side. While three models received acceptable ratings and two models received marginal ratings, the 2015 Toyota RAV4 was rated as poor. The IIHS suspected that the difference was partly due to a greater emphasis on the vehicle frame and structure for the driver's side, but there is no excuse for inferior passenger protection. Read also: How To Shop For A Car With Your Teen Driver? If you were a passenger in a vehicle involved in a collision and were seriously injured as a result, or if you lost someone you love in such an accident, you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer who can examine the circumstances of your case and advise you of your rights. Personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay them unless there is a settlement or verdict in your favor. Passengers with serious injuries are entitled to appropriate and thorough medical care for their physical, emotional, and psychological injuries suffered as a result of the accident, as well as full compensation for their pain and suffering, mental anguish, property damage, and lost wages. It is also critical that you at least consult with an attorney before speaking with an insurance company investigator or adjuster. Their job is to spend as little money as possible while quickly settling a large number of claims, and they are well-trained in the fine art of getting you to make statements that can come back to haunt you later. Since you are bound by what you say, it is often wise to let an attorney speak for you.

What Is Chapter 7 On Bankruptcy Laws: A Beginner’s Guide

If you are in the business industry, Bankruptcy is one of the most common terms used. It is a legal process to give your financial life a fresh start, either by discarding or making arrangements to pay your debts. In most cases, Bankruptcy also plays an influential role for the companies to end the business and liquidate the company’s assets in an orderly way. A bankruptcy case is filed when a company is no longer able to handle the financial flow of the business and is on the brink of closing its doors. Bankruptcy offers a way out in such scenarios. Yes, Bankruptcy stays on your credit report and makes it hard for you to apply for a loan, but sometimes it is best to apply for Bankruptcy. Let’s understand it in a much better way. What Is Bankruptcy? When a situation arises where an individual or a company feels like they can no longer pay up their debt, they choose to file Bankruptcy. Although there are different types of Bankruptcy, you can go with anyone that best complements your current situation. Despite being several types, the only goal of Bankruptcy is to discharge you from debts and give a fresh financial start. When a bankruptcy is filed, a Discharge order is issued. It is an order from the Bankruptcy court that permanently prohibits any debt collectors and creditors from coming to your doorsteps. Here are the types of Bankruptcy: Chapter 7. Chapter 9. Chapter 11. Chapter 12. Chapter 13. Chapter 15. Yes, we do have this many bankruptcy laws to offer full support. Among them all, the most filed Bankruptcy is Chapter 7. What Is Chapter 7 Bankruptcy? Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is by far the most common filed Bankruptcy for individuals. It calls for the sale of the debtor's nonexempt property to pay out the debt he/she has incurred. Chapter 7 bankruptcy is well suited for the dividual who do not have a fixed income source. When a chapter 7 bankruptcy is filed, the bankruptcy court appoints a trustee to oversee the case. The main responsibility of the trustee would be to see whether the sales process is going as planned and creditors getting paid their money. However, the selling process of the debtor’s assets has some restrictions. The trustee cannot take all of your assets. They can only sell the assets with a nonexempt tag. This ensures that you are not stripped of everything you need to live. Some common exemptions are as follows. House. Auto vehicle. Certain retirement accounts. Property that can be considered assets and not necessary for living. To know more about the whole bankruptcy thing, more especially about chapter 7, contact Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in GA. How To Prepare For Chapter 7 Bankruptcy? When preparing for chapter 7 Bankruptcy, gather all your financial records that include all your loan details, credit card statements, bank statements, and paystubs. You will need all the documents to complete your chapter 7 bankruptcy documents. Chapter 7 bankruptcy comes with a voluntary petition to the court, scheduling all your assets, and declaration regarding the debtor’s education. Credit Counselling Before the chapter 7 case can be filled, every debtor must participate in a session with an approved credit counselor. This session can either be attended in person, via telephone or online. Understanding The Means Test Debtors are needed to pass the Mean Test. It is also a necessary document that is required at the time of the chapter 7 filing. This test calculates the potential of whether you can pay the mean. The Mean Test compares your household income and the mean income of the state to know the current standing of your financial footings. The Meeting To The Creditors After Chapter 7 is filled, the court will issue a notice of “meeting of creditors”. As the name suggests, it is a meeting for the creditors to question the Bankruptcy and clear any doubts. Conclusion There you have it; now you know what Chapter 7 bankruptcy is all about. We have tried our best to keep every information possible in the most concise way. We hope that you get the answer you were looking for. If you want to know more about Bankruptcy, do let us know, we will be there with a suitable answer. Read Also: What are the types of debt that can be discharged in bankruptcy? UAE Insurance Authority Sets New Regulations for Insurance Broking

5 Steps To Take After An Auto Accident: A Guide To Handling The Unexpected

Safety First, Always

Contact Law Enforcement As Well As Exchange Information

Document The Accident

Make The Concerned Insurance Firm Aware

Ask For Medical Attention And Legal Guidance If Needed

Navigating Adoption In Athens, Georgia: Finding The Right Adoption Lawyer

How To Pick The Best Florida Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Abdul Aziz Mondol

Abdul Aziz Mondol is a professional blogger who is having a colossal interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, he loves to share content related to business, finance, technology, and the gaming niche.

Leave a Reply

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Related

Do I Need A Redundancy Solicitor? Then What Is That?

Along for the Ride: Passenger Rights in Vehicle Accidents

What Is Chapter 7 On Bankruptcy Laws: A Beginner’s Guide

5 Steps To Take After An Auto Accident: A Guide To Handling The Unexpected

Safety First, Always

Contact Law Enforcement As Well As Exchange Information

Document The Accident

Make The Concerned Insurance Firm Aware

Ask For Medical Attention And Legal Guidance If Needed

Share this Article

Navigating Adoption In Athens, Georgia: Finding The Right Adoption Lawyer

How To Pick The Best Florida Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Abdul Aziz Mondol is a professional blogger who is having a colossal interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, he loves to share content related to business, finance, technology, and the gaming niche.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related