Summer in Sudbury is synonymous with vacationing and glorious road trips. But with the extra volume of cars on the road and longer hours behind the wheel, you need to be extra vigilant. The last thing you want is to have an accident. Even a small fender-bender can put a serious damper on your vacation and bring up unexpected health problems down the road.
However, if you are involved in an accident resulting in significant damage or injury, consider consulting a personal injury or car accident lawyer in Sudbury to ensure your rights are respected.
The facts about road accidents
Number of accidents. There were 3654 motor-vehicle collisions in Sudbury last year. Of those, roughly 60% were self-reported, meaning they were so minor that no police presence was required.
Severity. There were eight fatalities on Sudbury roads and 820 injuries in 2016.
When they occurred. Few will be surprised that most of these accidents occurred in the winter months and typically involved a rear-end collision. Weekday afternoons were the worst, and Thursdays at 4pm were the worst of the worst!
The dos and don’ts following an accident
Do stay calm. Panic or anger never helped in a post-accident scenario. Make sure you and your car are not in danger of being struck by oncoming traffic and call 911 if anyone is injured.
Do gather information. Exchange all necessary personal information with others involved in the collision and the contact information of any witnesses. Take pictures of the accident scene, road conditions and damage to vehicles. Call your insurance company ASAP.
Don’t apologize, accept money or sign anything besides the police report. It sounds decidedly un-Canadian not to say you’re sorry, but an apology can be used in court as an admission of guilt. And accepting money from another party for damages to your car can end up costing you in the long run.
Don’t move anybody who is injured and don’t leave the scene of the accident.
What to do if you’re injured
Get evaluated by your doctor and follow his or her instructions. If you can go back to work without undue discomfort or worsening your injuries, do so. Working demonstrates your goodwill and, as a rule, will not negatively impact your pending lawsuits or negotiations with your insurance company.
To ensure your rights are respected by government agencies, insurance companies and other parties, consider hiring personal injury or car accident lawyers in Sudbury like Paquette & Paquette. At Paquette & Paquette, we have the experienced personnel to help you throughout the entire process.
Contact us and let us help you get back on your feet!