Nobody ever thinks they’re going to get into a car accident. We usually see crashes on the side of the road and thank our lucky stars that it didn’t happen to us. We say a little prayer for the people involved and go about our day.
At some point, most of us will be involved in some sort of car accident. It may just be a fender bender, but accidents do happen. It’s important to know exactly how to behave if you get into a crash in Bentonville, Arkansas.
There are a few things you need to do if you get into a car accident in Arkansas. The first thing you need to do is call the cops. They’ll come out and investigate the scene. They’ll also arrange for an ambulance for any victims who are seriously hurt.
The second thing you need to do is seek immediate medical treatment. Even if you don’t think you’re hurt, you need to get checked out. Your car accident lawyer in Bentonville is going to need proof that you were injured. The best way to do this is using medical records.
The third thing you need to do after a car wreck is contact an experienced car accident lawyer in Bentonville. Your lawyer will help you deal with the insurance company. They’ll also work har to get you the compensation you deserve.
What Will the Police Do at the Scene?
It’s important that you call 911 immediately after your crash. Do this before you get out of the car to talk to the other driver. 911 will send someone to scene right away to make sure everyone’s okay. They’ll also try to make sense of what happened.
The police will make sure that everyone is okay. They’ll also arrange to have the accident moved to the side of the road so nobody else gets injured. Safety will be their first priority.
Once they’ve done this, they’re going to ask the drivers for their license and insurance information. They’ll check to see if either of the drivers is impaired. They’ll also get statements from the people involved in the crash.
The police will also talk to witnesses. Witnesses are more likely to talk to the cops than to a stranger. You don’t really want to approach the witnesses yourself. Let the cops do that. They’ll get their contact information. This way, your lawyer can contact the if they need any more information.
The cops will conduct a thorough investigation to see what may have caused the accident. They’ll prepare a police report with all of this information. Your Bentonville auto accident attorney is going to need this police report. It is the best source of evidence they have.
What Information is Contained in the Police Report?
The police are going to prepare a police report. This report will contain very important information. Your lawyer will need this information to prove your case.
Some of the information contained in the police report includes:
- Description of the accident scene and road conditions
- Names and contact information for any witnesses
- Pictures of the victims, the cars and the scene
- Statements made by the drivers involved
- License and insurance information for all parties involved
- Notes about any tickets or citations issues
While your lawyer may be able to get some of this information, it won’t be easy. They’ll have to spend a lot of time and money looking for this information on their own. This time and resources can be better spent preparing your case.
The other driver may ask you not to call the police. And, if the damage to the vehicles isn’t that bad, you may be tempted to agree. Never do this. There are reasons why someone wouldn’t want you to call the police. These reasons could include:
- They don’t have a license
- They have active warrants
- They have no insurance
- They are driving a stolen car
- They’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol
The cops will detect if any of these things are going on. Once the other driver is gone, there’s no way you can prove any of these things.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Bentonville, Arkansas Right Away
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you’ll need to do a lot of things. You’ll have to deal with insurance companies. You’ll also need to recover from your injuries. Let an experienced car accident lawyer in Bentonville handle the legal side of things.
Call today and schedule your initial consultation with Jason M. Hatfield P.A. today. It’s absolutely free and you don’t pay anything until you settle your case.