Getting into a car accident, whether it’s minor or serious, is bad news. It’s even worse when you’re blamed for something you didn’t do as almost all countries have strict laws for the guilty person in car crashes.
The laws can lead to jail sentences and settlement of thousands of dollars depending upon the accident. If you don’t want this to happen, you need to prove yourself innocent. It might be a difficult process without the help of a lawyer, but it’s not impossible.
For your help, we’ll discuss how to prove you are not at fault in a car accident. We’ll share the five important steps you should take to prove you’re not the one who’s at fault. So, let’s get into the details!
5 Steps To Prove You’re Not At Fault In Car Accidents
Here are the five simple steps you should take when you’re not at fault in car accidents. These steps include preparing yourself, gathering evidence, taking help from police, medical reports and CCTV footage.
1. Prepare Yourself
The first thing you should do is prepare yourself to defend. It’s a long process and not as easy as it might seem. You’ll need to learn about the basic traffic laws and state laws, and this means more than just reading – you need to understand them.
To learn about the law, you can visit the official websites of law enforcement agencies in your state. Another option is to read a book about the subject. It will not only help you defend yourself but also stop you from making mistakes.
What else can you do?
In accident cases, you may have to interact with police and lawyers multiple times. The issue is most people give statements without thinking twice due to a lack of knowledge about the legal issues, which can weaken your case.
However, if you’ve done your research and have a good grasp of the basic law and legal issues, you’ll be more careful with what you say. This cautious approach will help you not become the guilty person in the case and protect you from the big settlement amount.
2. Visit The Accident Scene
After gaining a basic knowledge of the state and traffic laws, visit the accident scene. If you already have pictures, it’s best, as they can be used as proof who was responsible to insurance companies and the court.
If you haven’t taken pictures yet, don’t worry. Take some photos of your car and the exact spot where the accident occurred from different angles. It’s important to do this as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that evidence will disappear or change.