How do I Describe a Car Accident?

How do I Describe a Car Accident?

The most important thing to remember when it comes to how you describe your car accident is that you tell your story calmly and carefully. Taking the time to remember the details without becoming overwhelmed emotionally could ensure that you relay the facts of your case clearly.

The way you describe your accident is important to the future of your personal injury case. When the facts of your accident are unclear, it could lead to misunderstandings that put an injury case at risk. Relaying these vital details to your attorney or insurance company could make a tremendous difference in the outcome of your case.

Describing Your Accident Accurately

There are a few tips that could help you describe your car accident with accuracy. The first and most important is to remain calm during the retelling of your accident. Becoming angry or emotional could make it difficult to clearly paint a picture of what occurred and distract from the incident you are trying to convey.

Focus on the facts as opposed to your feelings, particularly at first. When describing your accident, even small details are important.

  • What lane did your car come to rest in?
  • Did you feel any pain immediately after the crash?
  • Did the other driver break any traffic laws prior to the collision?

Carefully and concisely describing your accident could help you paint a picture of what happened.

Who will I Have to Describe My Accident to?

There are some situations where you may be required to describe your car accident. The first of these examples could occur in the moments after an accident. Unless you require immediate medical care, the police that respond to the accident site will ask you to give your side of the story. Stick to the basic facts of the accident and leave any opinions out of it.

You may also be required to discuss your accident with your own insurance provider. Many insurance companies include a provision in their policies that mandates drivers give a recorded statement. The failure to comply could result in a denied claim or even a cancelled insurance policy.

Having the details of your accident down is important when you are speaking to your own carrier, especially if you intend to file a claim on your own policy. A misstatement or omission could reduce your potential benefits.

Taking Notes After an Accident is Helpful

Although the details of your accident might be all you can think about in the hours that follow, the facts of these collisions typically fade over time. Forgetting very specific details of your accident is not unusual, but it could be problematic if you pursue a personal injury lawsuit in the future. This is partially because you only have IC § 34-11-2-4 years under v. Waiting until you remember details to seek justice could backfire.

For that reason, taking notes immediately after your accident could be in your best interest. The notes made in your own writing could spark your memory when discussing the case—even months or years after the accident occurs.

The opportunity to refresh your memory could be the best tool available to help you describe your accident when the time comes. Mentioning in your notes that the other driver was texting could remind you that you could have been harmed due to distracted driving.

FAQs About Post-Accident Steps

Should you file a police report at the accident scene?

Calling the police and notifying them of an accident may seem intimidating, but actually, it is standard procedure. You must notify law enforcement of a collision if:

  • Anyone is injured
  • Anyone passes away

The accident report will establish that a collision did happen and that you were involved. It will also document some important information about the accident, including the names of those involved and their insurance carriers. If anyone was arrested or issued a traffic citation, the report will contain those details, as well.

What should you do after an accident if you are the passenger?

You should render immediate aid, describe the crash to law enforcement, and see a doctor to be prescribed a treatment plan to follow for any injuries. You may file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance provider, even if it was your friend driving the car.

Let an Attorney Speak on Your Behalf

You do not have to speak to everyone after your accident. Many people will still ask for your side of the story. The other driver involved in the collision might want to discuss the case at the scene.

Their insurance company is likely to reach out to you within days or even hours of the collision. Not only do you have no obligation to speak to them about the details of the accident, but doing so could put your case at risk. Anything you say could be taken out of context and held against you at trial.

One of the major benefits of working with your car accident lawyer is that they could serve as your advocate. When it is time to speak with the insurance company about a potential settlement, your attorney could do so on your behalf. This could remove the risk of the insurance adjuster using an errant comment of yours to justify denying your claim.

Talk to an Attorney Immediately Following Your Collision

By remaining calm and focusing on the facts, you could describe your car accident concisely and accurately. This could help you secure benefits through your insurance company and provide the police with an accurate picture of what happened.

When it comes to speaking with other parties, you could benefit from relying on an attorney. Our team is ready to serve as your advocate and speak on your behalf. We can serve you even if you think your accident had no damage or injuries.

Call Sevenish, Law Firm, P.C to get Started on Your Car Accident

By putting your injury case in our hands, we could ensure that the insurance companies are unable to twist your words or use anything you say out of context. To learn more about how we could help, call 317-720-3229 for a free consultation.

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