The people involved in motor vehicle collisions often have many questions about what happens next. They wonder how long they may need to wait for police officers to put together a report and may worry about how they can pay for their expenses.
Car crashes can seriously damage vehicles or leave them unsafe to drive. They can cause major injuries that require medical care. When injuries are particularly severe, people may even have lost income to address. Ideally, the driver at fault for the crash takes responsibility and has adequate insurance coverage. Unfortunately, many people want to avoid a traffic ticket or an insurance claim. They may claim ignorance about the cause of a crash or even lie about their conduct immediately before the wreck.
How can those frustrated by a driver trying to avoid responsibility prove who was at fault for a crash?
Document the scene carefully
The placement of the vehicles at the scene of the crash and even where debris falls can provide insight into what happens during the crash and therefore what may have caused the crash. Particularly when collisions occur on roads with high speed limits, at busy intersections or near a curve with limited visibility, drivers may want to move their vehicles after a wreck. Before moving the vehicles, however, drivers may want to take photographs or record video of the scene. The documentation that they gather could assist with a crash reconstruction later.
Speak calmly but assertively to the police
Some drivers want to avoid blaming others after a crash. They may worry that their actions might constitute snitching or being a tattletale to an authority figure. They might assume that police officers can review the situation and arrive at the appropriate conclusion regarding who caused the collision. There are so many potential factors in play that police officers may have a hard time evaluating a crash without input from the people involved. Motorists should relay any relevant information to police officers. Suspicions of impairment or distraction could guide how the officers respond to the crash. Explaining that the other driver ran a stop sign or failed to use their turn signal could also influence an officer’s perception of a collision.
As a closing note, motorists generally need to avoid apologizing or otherwise making statements that imply they were the party at fault for a crash. The wrong statements can lead to officers reaching inappropriate conclusions.
Drivers hoping to hold other motorists accountable for a recent motor vehicle collision may need help reviewing their options for compensation and advocating for a fair outcome, and that’s okay. Those with financial losses caused by a car crash may need support as they pursue compensation after the wreck. Seeking legal guidance is a good way to get started.