Being involved in a vehicle accident can be a terrifying experience. The situation can become even more challenging if you are wrongly accused of causing the crash. When this occurs, it is crucial that you work diligently to show that you were not responsible for the incident so that you do not end up being held liable and having to pay compensation to other parties involved. Here, we want to review some of the steps that you can take after being wrongfully accused of causing a vehicle accident in Pennsylvania.
Stop and Call a Pennsylvania Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been involved in a vehicle accident and are being blamed for causing the crash, you need to pick up the phone and contact a skilled Philadelphia car accident attorney as soon as possible. When an attorney gets involved early in the process, they can take the steps necessary to help you throughout the entire claim. An attorney will handle all communications with other parties involved, including the insurance carriers, at-fault parties, and other legal teams. An attorney will be responsible for gathering the evidence necessary to prove your side of the story.
Never Admit Fault
It can be second nature to jump out of a car and make statements about your role in a vehicle accident. You should not make any statements, even if it seems very clear that the evidence is pointing in your direction. Do not admit fault and do not apologize.
Additionally, do not make any statements about your injuries. Even if you do not feel any pain immediately following a crash, please understand that the signs and symptoms of some car accident injuries may not appear for hours or days after the crash.
Gathering Evidence to Prove What Happened
You can gather evidence at the scene of the crash. Right after the incident occurs, and if you do not have to seek immediate medical care, you should use your phone or another type of camera to take pictures of everything, including vehicle damage, injuries, skid marks, debris, traffic conditions, and more. Additionally, if there were any eyewitnesses to the crash, need to get their contact information so they can be contacted by insurance carriers later on.
Do Not Speak to the Insurance Carrier
In the days following a vehicle accident, an insurance claims adjuster will likely contact you and ask for a recorded statement. They may tell you that this statement will help expedite your claim and help with their investigation. However, you should refrain from making any statements to the insurance adjuster. Anything you say to them could be used as evidence against you in your claim, either to reduce how much money you receive or to place partial or full responsibility onto you. Speak to a Philadelphia injury lawyer to learn more.
Understand Comparative Negligence
It is important that you understand that Pennsylvania operates under a “modified comparative negligence” rule. This means that you can still recover compensation even if you are up to 51% responsible for the incident. If you are less than 51% responsible for a crash, you can still recover partial compensation, though the total amount you receive will be reduced based on your percentage of fault.