A car accident can be a devastating event for an individual and his or her family. While car accidents are fairly common, dealing with the consequences of an accident can take months. The following guide provides simple tips and tricks on how to prove the other driver in an accident was at fault.
Before an accident, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce your risk of liability. These steps may reduce your liability, but they won’t completely eliminate.
It’s important to have a dashcam installed and operative in your car at all times. Many dashcams can be purchased for less than $100. Many are designed to turn on automatically whenever your vehicle is turned one. In most cases, these devices are designed to plug into the cigarette lighter or DC port on a vehicle.
Dashcams should be placed near the center of a front windshield. They should be able to capture any accidents that occur. While it’s a good idea to have a rear camera too, it’s usually not essential. If someone runs into the rear of your vehicle, a dashcam video usually won’t be needed to prove that the other party is at fault.
It’s also important to avoid any actions that could automatically cause an accident to be your fault. For example, if you have any alcohol or drugs in your body, you could be blamed for an accident caused by another person. If you’re idling at a redlight and someone runs into your vehicle, you will be the party at fault if you are intoxicated.
It’s also important to make sure that your vehicle registration is properly maintained. Always carry insurance. A failure to maintain a vehicle registration or insurance could, under some situations, shift blame for an accident from a third party to you.
After an Accident
If you have been in an accident, limit all conversation with the other driver. Only share your name and contact information. Do not admit fault to an accident. It’s also important to avoid apologizing for an accident, even if you were to blame. Apologizing is considered an admission of guilt in the court system.
If you have been in an accident and have a dashcam installed, the video may or may not be beneficial to you. If it’s clear that the other vehicle in an accident was at fault, it’s a good idea to share that video with the police. However, if you were at fault, it’s best to not share the video. While it’s important to be honest with the police, don’t volunteer to share a dashcam video with the police if you’re concerned it could make you appear to be guilty following an accident.
Finally, it’s important to contact your insurance company as soon as possible. In most cases, your insurance company will help you in court by arguing on your behalf. Your insurance company will work to place blame for an accident on the other party involved.
When calling 911 after an accident, don’t ever use active voice to describe what has happened. Instead of saying that you just ran into another car, use passive voice to state that a vehicle accident has occurred. It’s important to remember that all 911 calls are recorded. While you should be honest with a 911 dispatcher, don’t volunteer any information that isn’t needed. You should only share your location, the nature of the accident, and information on if anyone was injured. You should not describe the accident to the 911 operator or the circumstances that led to the accident. This information can be used against you in a court of law.
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