What Information Do You Exchange After a Crash?
Motor vehicle accidents are both unexpected and overwhelming. They often occur on dangerous roads and at the most inconvenient times. It can be tempting to cut corners at the scene of a Charleston car crash, including refusing to call the police or only exchanging minimum information. However, this could significantly impact your ability to recover needed financial compensation after the accident.
Do not hesitate to call a dedicated Charleston, SC car crash lawyer following a motor vehicle accident if you have questions about recovering compensation for your injuries. The sooner you call, the sooner the car crash attorneys at Wyndham Law Firm can protect your rights. Connect with us at (843) 279-5312 or contact us online to schedule a free motor vehicle accident case analysis.
Information You Should and Should Not Provide After a Charleston Car Accident
Your first priority after a motor vehicle collision is to get yourself and any other involved parties to safety, if possible. Once you’re off the road and you’ve assessed all drivers and passengers for injuries, then you should exchange the following information with the other driver:
- Full legal names and license I.D. numbers of the drivers
- The legal names of vehicle owners, if different than drivers
- Vehicle registration information
- Insurance card information
- Names of passengers
Additionally, you should take a moment to gather critical evidence of liability. This may include taking photographs of the vehicle damage and videos of your conversations with the other driver and passengers. If you have a smartphone, take pictures of the other driver’s I.D., auto insurance card, and registration.
It is not always recommended that you exchange phone numbers and other personal contact information with liable drivers if you were seriously injured in a Charleston car crash. This often leads to heated text messages, emails, and voice exchanges that could contain unintended admissions of liability. We recommend contacting a personal injury attorney for advice or ensuring all communication goes through your insurance adjuster, who can contact the other driver’s insurer on your behalf.
Do You Have to Call the Police After a South Carolina Motor Vehicle Accident?
South Carolina law requires drivers to immediately contact police if the car accident resulted in any injuries, however small, or fatalities. If you failed to call the police, operators or owners of involved motor vehicles must file a written traffic accident report within fifteen (15) days if the accident resulted in any latent injuries, such as whiplash or internal organ damage, or property damage in an amount exceeding $1,000. You should also call the police if the other driver does not have a valid I.D., driver’s license, insurance, or registration card. You may not be able to find the vehicle operator again, and you need a record of the accident to claim uninsured motorist benefits.
Contact Our Compassionate Charleston, SC Car Crash Lawyers Immediately
If you were recently involved in a motor vehicle accident, do not admit to liability, describe your driving behaviors, or speak too much about your injuries with the other driver. All these statements may be used against you in court and during insurance negotiations. Instead, you should contact a dedicated motor vehicle accident lawyer at Wyndham Law Firm for help filing traffic accident reports and recovering needed compensation for your injuries and losses. Call our office to schedule a free personal injury claims consultation today at (843) 279-5312 or contact us online.