I’ve Been Sued For a Car Accident. What Do I Do?
Many times, accidents are just that—accidents. But you may find yourself in the situation where you’re being sued by another person for injuries they claim you caused. It’s not a situation many would choose to be in. However, there are steps that you can take early on in order to make the process a little smoother.
- Stay at the scene. Even if it is a minor “fender-bender.” Leaving the scene of an accident can get you into a lot more trouble for even a minor accident where nobody appears injured.
- Talk to witnesses and get their information. Many times, a lawsuit won’t be filed until close to two years after an accident. By that time, memories are stale. In the event you’re sued, an eye-witness’ recollection may be helpful. But that witness will not be of any help to you if you cannot get in touch with them.
- Write down details. Again, memories fade as time passes. Never again will the details of an accident be as fresh in your mind as right after it happens. Write down any details you can recall—it may come in handy down the line when you’re asked to recall specifics about the accident.
- Inform your insurance company. They may be able to guide you through the process.
- Keep track of your records. With modern technology, it is so easy to scan any amount of paperwork into a computer file for safe-keeping.
There is no cure-all for being on the defense side of a lawsuit. But hopefully these steps will save you the frustration of thinking to yourself “I wish I had done that.”