Steps to Take After a Maryland Auto Accident

People should know what to do after a motor vehicle accident in order to protect their interests.

2012-06-22

June 22, 2012 (Press-News.org) Car accidents seem to be a fact of life. According to the latest statistics available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 2.24 million people were injured in auto accidents in the U.S. in 2010. With so many vehicles on the nation's roads, the odds are that even the safest drivers will be involved in an auto accident at some point in their lives, so people should know what to do after a motor vehicle accident in order to protect their interests.

At the Scene

The most important thing to remember after an auto accident is that all parties involved need to remain at the scene, unless it unsafe to do so. People should check to see if anyone is injured before assessing damage to vehicles or other property, and call for medical help if necessary. If someone reports back or neck pain, it is important not move the person until medical personnel arrive, as they may have serious injuries that could be aggravated by movement.

If no one is injured, the parties involved in the accident should still call the police to report the incident. The drivers need to exchange contact and insurance information, but they should avoid discussing the accident. Apologizing to the other driver may be a natural response to being involved in an accident, but it also may be taken as an admission of fault, so people should try to remember not to say "I am sorry." Also, people should never give a recorded statement to anyone, including their insurance companies, until they have spoken with a competent attorney.

Taking pictures of the accident scene and talking to witnesses is also important for documenting what happened. Drivers should record the contact information of any witnesses.

Following Up

After an accident, drivers should inform their insurance companies about the accident in order to begin the claim process. Obtaining a copy of the police report is often helpful for drivers, so that they can show who was at fault for the accident. Drivers need to document their medical costs for injuries from auto accidents for the insurance company and the court if the matter requires a lawsuit.

Drivers should also get several estimates on the cost of repairing any damaged property. If a driver is not satisfied with the insurance adjuster's valuation of the car and how much it will cost to repair, having independent estimates will help support the driver's claim that the adjuster's estimate is incorrect.

Drivers should not discuss the accident with anyone except their insurance agents, the police and their lawyers. If a representative from another person's insurance company attempts to contact a driver with a settlement offer, the driver should be very cautious about accepting it. The driver should make sure all of the necessary medical treatment is complete so he or she knows the extent of the treatment costs.

It is wise for people to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney before accepting any settlement offers.

Article provided by Engel & Engel, P.A.
Visit us at http://www.engelandengellaw.com/

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Employees Don't "Like" Employer Requests for Facebook Passwords

2012-06-22

A growing number of employers have begun asking employees and job applicants for their Facebook and other social media passwords. Applicants in need of a job and employees who want to keep their jobs feel pressured to agree to provide them. This is particularly so in the economy of the last few years that has resulted in high unemployment nationwide. The practice raises serious concerns about privacy violations among other things. Through Facebook pages, Twitter accounts and personal blogs employees now broadcast personal information and opinions to a wider audience ...

New York DWI Laws for First-Time Offenders

2012-06-22

New York authorities take drinking and driving offenses very seriously. Drivers in New York should be aware of the state's driving while intoxicated laws and the potential penalties drivers face for a first DWI conviction. Driving While Intoxicated For most drivers in New York, the blood alcohol concentration at which the law presumes a person too intoxicated to drive is 0.08 percent. For those driving commercial motor vehicles, the limit is 0.04 percent. A DWI conviction is a Class A misdemeanor in New York. New York law considers driving with a BAC of 0.18 or ...

How to Deal with Staggering Student Loan Debt

2012-06-22

Graduation time is here for college students in Tennessee. While most graduates are looking optimistically towards the future, some are full of angst about joining the legion of others who are struggling to pay off student loans. Student loan debt can be crippling, but borrowers do have options to make it easier to handle. A recent report states that nearly 37 million Americans have student loan debt. The average amount owed is around $23,000, but that number is misleading because of the small percentage of borrowers who owe much larger amounts. Given the amount of ...

North Carolina Teens Drive Distracted 15 Percent of the Time

2012-06-22

A six-month study conducted by AAA revealed that teens are very likely to drive while distracted. The AAA Foundation used video clips of newly licensed teens in the Carolinas to measure the frequency of distracted driving. The results were disappointing, if unsurprising. Teens used an electronic device such as a cellphone or tablet in nearly 7 percent of all video clips recorded. Female teenagers were twice as likely use a cellphone or smartphone as males; however, males were twice as likely to turn around while driving to speak to a passenger or grab an item. Other distracted ...

Bankruptcy Filings Declining in New York

2012-06-22

Many people faced economic difficulties when the stock market collapsed in 2008. Those who lost their jobs and health insurance struggled to pay bills, and others found themselves underwater in their mortgages as the housing bubble burst and the values of their homes plummeted. Thousands in New York and across the country sought relief by filing bankruptcy. However, the latest statistics reveal that the number of people filing bankruptcy has been dropping. Bankruptcy Filing Statistics New York saw a decrease in the number of bankruptcy filings beginning in 2011. According ...

Consent to Blood-Alcohol Tests in New York Comes with Lawful DWI Arrest

2012-06-22

Recently, an on-duty New York police officer was arrested for drunk driving after attending a police fundraiser. The officer got into his police cruiser after getting kicked out the fundraiser twice for being too intoxicated but only traveled a few blocks before hitting a light pole. The officer was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated and refusal to take a breath test. What many drivers in New York may not know is that they impliedly consent to chemical tests like a breath test to determine impairment simply by obtaining a driver's license. People often ...

Preparing for Probate Process Can Cut Costs

2012-06-22

Many people first become familiar with probate courts after a death in the family. To save time and prevent strain, it is a good idea to learn the basics before an emergency and make decisions in advance that can cut probate costs. Connecticut probate courts administer the transfer of a decedent's property, including collection of property, payment of any debts and distribution of property. The process is dictated by the decedent's will, if any, and Connecticut inheritance laws. The Probate Process If the decedent had a will, the court will first "probate ...

Changing Legal and Economic Landscape for Undocumented Workers

2012-06-22

Over the last few years the legal and economic landscape has drastically changed for undocumented workers in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security has increased enforcement of federal immigration laws and the sour economy has not churned out as many jobs as before The Great Recession. Immigrants who come to the United States in search of a better life now face tougher penalties and fewer employment opportunities, making the prospect of working in the U.S. less attractive. As a result, illegal border crossings have been down and deportations have been up ...

Most Unique Dorm Products For Fall 2012

2012-06-22

Like every aspect of life these days, dorm living is becoming more and more innovative for college students. This year's new dorm products seem to have found a way to mix practicality with originality in a way that college-bound students are sure to love. DormCo.com has new Doodle By Stitch products, both a duvet and a pillow that are made especially for doodling. The Doodle By Stitch products come with special markers that allow you to "draw on it, wash out, and design again." It's well known that coloring has been found to be a major de-stresser, so it's ...

Is monitoring software an invasion of privacy... or is it the smart thing to do to protect your children?

2012-06-22

In recent years, cyber crime − a crime committed through the use of technology such as a computer or cell phone − has led to a disturbing number of tragedies, including an alarmingly high amount of teen suicides, sexual assaults and kidnappings. The Cyber Bullying Research Center reports that over 80% of teenagers use their cell phone every single day and nearly 25% of them have been the victims of bullying or sexual solicitations via this same technology. In recent news, alleged child molesting by the Penn State's Jerry Sandusky has served as yet ...

BioCompNet: a deep learning workflow enabling automated body composition analysis toward precision management of cardiometabolic disorders

Nonlinear association between systemic immune-inflammation index and in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and atrial fibrillation: a cross-sectio

Steps to Take After a Maryland Auto Accident

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: