We rely on our vehicles to get us from point A to point B and everywhere in between. However, car crashes happen far too often, and our vehicles aren’t always well-equipped to keep us 100% safe. In fact, over 37,000 people die in car accidents every year, and 2.35 million more are injured or disabled as a result of collisions. If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s important to notify police and contact a qualified car accident attorney. But there are also some common mistakes that you should avoid making immediately following a crash.

After a car accident, don’t…

• Refuse medical treatment
  After an accident, your adrenaline and emotions are running high. You likely won’t be able to recognize the extent of your injuries if you have, in fact, sustained any. You may be in shock and may be inclined to think you don’t need medical treatment. But it’s important for you to get a thorough examination following a crash. You’ll be glad you did so if you later decide to pursue a personal injury case.

• Forget to exchange info and take photos
  Exchanging information with the other driver(s) involved in the crash is an absolute must. Even if you can’t find any vehicular damage or think you’re physically fine, don’t neglect to obtain the driver’s name, home address, telephone number, license plate number, vehicle make and model, and insurance info. If you decide to file a personal injury claim, your attorney will need these details to proceed.

• Give too much info to an insurance company
  Understand that insurance claim adjusters are not on your side. Their main objective is to safe their company money. While you are required to give basic, relevant information to the insurance company that’s involved in your claim, don’t volunteer extra details that you don’t need to provide. In addition, you should not give them a recorded statement. If you have questions about interacting with an insurance company, be sure to work with a car accident lawyer; he or she can tell you exactly what you are required to tell them and what you aren’t.

• Neglect to hire legal help
  When you’ve been hurt in a crash, you need someone knowledgeable and experienced to fight on your behalf. A lawyer will protect your rights and can help you get the compensation you deserve. An attorney can determine whether or not it’s a good idea to file a claim and when to do so. It’s the best way to obtain financial compensation for expensive medical bills, loss of property, or missed work wages.

If you need help after a car crash, our Lexington KY lawyers can help you. For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact Golden Law Office today.

There are over 214 million licensed drivers on the roadways in the United States. Driving for the first time is such a great feeling; you finally have the freedom to go where you want, you feel in control, and you see yourself as an adult for the first time in your life. It’s essential, however, that every single driver knows what an important responsibility driving is. Here are a few things that every driver must be aware of.

Never Operate a Vehicle After Taking Any Illegal Substance

No matter how many times someone hears that they shouldn’t drive under the influence, it can never be said enough. Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol is the most dangerous thing you can do as a motor vehicle operator. Over the course of 2013, roughly 9.9 million people admitted to driving under the influence of illicit drugs. People make the mistake of driving under the influence of alcohol even more frequently.

You have to realize that doing any of these crimes can result in serious injury or death for yourself, other drivers, and anyone else in your area. Even after a “little bit” of alcohol or other substances, if you think that you’re “fine,” you’re most likely not and should, under no circumstances, get behind the wheel if you’ve had anything to drink or have taken another substance. Don’t ruin your life or someone else’s because of your bad decisions — drive responsibly.

What to Do in the Event of an Accident

Knowing what to do and who to contact immediately after an injury is one of the most important aspects of driving. After any accident, the first thing every driver should do is call an ambulance and have everyone inspected. There could be serious bodily injury and brain injury present in anyone involved, which could require immediate medical attention. After making sure everyone is safe, the next thing you should do is contact your car accident attorney. Experienced car accident attorneys can help provide legal counsel for you and get you out of trouble if the accident wasn’t your fault.

Following the Rules of the Road

Driving laws aren’t put in place just to annoy you. They are there to keep you and everyone else on the roads as safe as possible. Don’t think that just because you are a good driver that you can go as fast as you want, stop when you want, and drive how you want. If you want to avoid crashing, causing harm, or potentially killing yourself or someone else, drive safe and follow the rules of the road.

As long as you follow the rules of the road, know when to call an ambulance and your car accident attorney, and never,ever drive under the influence, you should have a great time on the road. Drive safe out there!

Being involved in a car accident can be one of the most terrifying experiences of a person’s life. Even if the crash is minor, there could always be serious problems resulting from the crash. It’s important that every driver on the road knows exactly what to do in the event of a car accident.

First: Make Sure Everyone (Including You) Is Safe
After any accident, you should immediately call an ambulance and have professional health workers inspect you and everyone else involved in the crash. Because motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) deaths (especially for 20 to 24-year-olds where TBI-related death rates are the highest), the medical issues you or anyone else involved could be even more severe that you originally thought. Getting the necessary medical attention will ensure that you’re okay, and then you will be able to move onto the next step.

Second: Make Note and Take Pictures of Everything
The second thing you should do in the event of any car accident, is to document every second of the aftermath. Provided that you’re not in too much harm, you should take out a pad and pen or your phone and start writing down everything that’s happening. Make a note of when the crash happened, how fast you were going, your statement of what happened, what witnesses are around, when the ambulance arrived, and anything else that might help you in court should you eventually go to trial. You should also take pictures of everything so you have photographic evidence to show later on. Most importantly, take pictures of your vehicle and the other vehicles involved in the crash.

Third: Call Your Law Firm
The next thing you should do in the event of any accident is to contact your personal injury lawyer. You should provide your lawyer with every single detail of the situation you have (keeping notes will help with this process) and show them all the photos you have as well. Telling them exactly what happened is essential because they will need any and all necessary information in order to properly handle your case.

Although vehicle accidents can be terrifying, if you remain calm, make sure everyone is okay, document everything, and call your lawyer, you won’t have as much to worry about.

Selecting a personal injury lawyer can be easy, but if you want to ensure that you’re working with a high-quality law firm, you should do a little research before you make your final decision. Obviously, every situation is different, and you might need to speak with a personal injury lawyer immediately after something like a car accident, but at least knowing these important aspects can help.

It’s Best to Work With Lawyers Who Exclusively Work On Personal Injury Cases
Because personal injury is a wide sector of the law, personal injury cases are often complicated and involve specialized rules and practices that only an experienced personal injury lawyer can handle. Sure, attorneys can be good and have experience with other kinds of law, but you’re going to want to work with someone who knows the ins and outs of personal injury law.

Provide Necessary Information During Your Consultation
One thing you should remember before hiring a personal injury lawyer is that initial consultations are usually free of charge. During these consultations, however, you have to be upfront and transparent with all details surrounding your case because in order for the lawyer to do their job properly. If you aren’t providing your lawyer with all the details of your case, are embellishing or lying in any way, that’s only going to worsen your chance at having a successful outcome.

If you need legal assistance and want to speak to an experienced law firm that focuses on personal injury, contact Golden Law Office today.