- Always assume other drivers don’t see you.
- Never assume that someone is going to yield for you.
- Stay as close to the posted speed limit as possible.
- In adverse conditions, slow down!
The basics of driving smart include not necessarily believing that the people around you are particularly good drivers. There are plenty of people out there who aren’t. They don’t look before going through intersections, drift across the stop lines at intersections, change lanes in intersections and all of that only concerns one road feature! When conditions are adverse, some drivers don’t slow down; when it gets dark out, some drivers don’t turn on their lights. If you have the misfortune to end up coming across one of these drivers and they hit you, you may want to consider hiring a vehicle accident lawyer.
Some of these lawyers work on contingency. This means that they don’t collect legal fees unless they win your claim. Most often, this type of arrangement comes with a free consultation. This allows you to find out if your case has a good chance of winning and, if it does, the attorney will likely take it on. There are a few things you can do to make things easier if you do decide to file a claim, however. They start right at the scene of the accident. Assuming no one is hurt and you’ve already called the authorities, remember the following.
- Call your attorney first
- Do not call your insurance company before calling your attorney
- Admit fault for nothing
- Don’t apologize for the accident
- Don’t review the accident with the other party
Your car wreck attorney will know how to handle the situation. If you have a good case, they may take it on contingency. This means that you don’t have to pay them anything upfront to take your case. If you win, they take your legal fees, which are fully disclosed, out of the settlement or jury award. There’s no guarantee you’ll win, but only an attorney can determine your chances for sure.