How Should You Handle The Police After A Car Accident?

Most drivers in Oregon will eventually get in a car accident. But when a crash happens, the police usually show up to do their investigation. Usually, the police want to talk to the drivers involved in the accident as well as the witnesses.

But how should you handle this situation after a car accident? After all, you probably haven’t had time to call auto accident injury lawyers in Oregon yet.

Keep the important information in mind below if you get in a car accident.

Legal Requirements: The good news is that federal and state laws do not require you to talk to the police in any situation, including after a car accident. However, it probably won’t help your cause if you don’t speak to the police after the incident.

At the least, you should provide your license, insurance, and registration information. If you don’t do that, you could face criminal charges.

Also, note that every state has implied consent laws that require you to submit to a DUI or breath test if the police suspect you are under the influence. Officers are allowed to find out this information. If you don’t provide it, you will probably be arrested and your license will be suspended.

But as far as answering their questions about the accident, it’s up to you. It mostly comes down to the situation and who is likely liable for the accident.

What The Police Want to Know: There really isn’t any reason to not provide the typical information that police want after a car accident. What they usually want to know includes: 

• When did the accident occur? 

• The contact information and names of everyone involved

• Witness statements

• Registration and license information for all drivers

• Description of road conditions

• Any injuries

The police will investigate how the accident happened and their opinion will be shared in the report.

When Should You Not Talk To The Police?

If you didn’t cause the accident, there isn’t any reason you shouldn’t talk to the police. But most accidents have a question about liability. So, you could be at least partially responsible for the accident and not know it.

This means you should avoid saying anything to the police that could incriminate you. It’s easy to say too much; people tend to be upset and outspoken after an accident. If you have any doubts about whether you should reveal something to the police, it’s best to stay quiet. Only reveal this information to the auto accident injury lawyers you hire.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that you are making yourself look guilty if you don’t talk to the police. It’s ok to not say anything about the accident if you think that you could be partially responsible.

The best thing to do in this case provides all of your personal and contact information and call an attorney after that.

If you weren’t responsible for the accident, it can help to provide information to the police and this will be included in the police report, which can help your case. 

Car Crash Myths You Never Should Take Seriously

It’s vital to know what you’re up against if you are in a car accident in Oregon. Unfortunately, there is a lot of bad information online that can mislead you. Please beware of the car crash myths below. 

If you have serious injuries from the accident, the best thing to do is contact skilled auto accident injury lawyers.

First, many believe that their auto insurance will pay for all their injuries. You may think that if you didn’t cause the accident, your insurance will pay for your injuries, lost work time, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

But you should remember that your insurance company is trying to pay as little as they can, even though you’re their client.

In Oregon, your insurance will probably need to pay for the first few thousand dollars of coverage for your injuries. But after that, they will likely fight to pay anything else, and you will need to go after the other insurance company for compensation.

Second, if you were hit from behind at a red light, you may assume that the other driver will be fully responsible. Again, it’s not always true. If you stopped suddenly for no reason or didn’t have a working brake light, they may argue that you were to blame.

Even if the other driver is clearly at fault, it’s not unusual for the insurance company to drag their feet and try to find you partially at fault. This is another time when you should have auto accident injury lawyers ready to fight for you.

Third, you’re a responsible person and have auto insurance, but not everyone does. In fact, some states have up to ¼ of drivers who don’t have insurance. Some drivers get insurance when they renew their registration and cancel it the next day.

This is why it’s important to have uninsured and underinsured driver coverage. If you have this important coverage, your own policy will pay for your damages, up to a certain amount.

It’s usually wise to have extra coverage in this area, especially if you have a lot of assets. You never know when an uninsured driver will hit you and you’re stuck with the bill.

Next, you shouldn’t believe that even your OWN insurance adjuster is on your side. Yes, he or she will be nice to you, but they want to have the insurance company – their employer- pay as little as possible. In fact, adjusters usually get bonuses for ensuring a case results in a lower payout.

You should use good auto accident injury lawyers in your case if you have serious injuries that require weeks of recovery and a hospital stay. You will end up with more money and less stress if you have a professional help you.