Road collisions are unfortunate accidents that may occur anytime and have dire consequences for the parties involved. If you are involved in an accident that has caused injury to someone, you need to be aware of the legal SOPs that you should follow if you don’t want to be tied up in litigation for years.
Failure-to-yield car accidents are quite common around the country and typically result in tragedy for both the driver and also for the victim. These accidents are particularly caused by unsafe driving practices where a negligent driver makes careless use of the road resulting in a car crash.
Since an accident can occur anytime and anywhere without your foresight, you should be prepared to deal with the consequences beforehand. Here we’ll share with you the top ways to legally handle an accident.
Simply STOP!
Believe it or not, this is the most common contributory factor when it comes to accidents: the simple failure to stop. Legal experts are of the opinion that if you leave the accident scene, even if you damage a tree without reporting it, that will be considered a hit-and-run case. In case you damage someone’s property or hit a person, the consequences will be even more severe. So don’t think that after calling 911 to the scene, you can then take your flight. You will just end up in hot water.
If you are in the middle of nowhere, you will want to leave the scene to look for help. This is a huge mistake. You may think that you are leaving the scene to help the injured person when in reality, it will paint you in a bad light during court proceedings. So, beware of your actions. You have made one mistake, but after that, be vigilant. Get all the help you can for the victim and complete all necessary paperwork. Take care of them till their family arrives. This will show you as a sensitive person, and a court case may be dropped even before it begins.
Get all the help you can for the victim and complete all necessary paperwork. Take care of them till their family arrives. This will show you as a sensitive person, and a court case may be dropped even before it begins.
You Have to Report
The next step is to report the incident, first to the emergency services and then to the police. The nearest police station is your next destination. Get to the police and tell them everything as it happened. If you are a victim of failure-to-yield car accidents in Houston or any other place, you can have various benefits in damages if you pursue a legal case. These include medical coverage, property damages, emotional support, and workers’ compensation.
You may want to keep the sequence of events exactly as they occurred as your statement may be used against you in court. Typically, car accidents can be reported within ten days of the incident. However, legal experts suggest that you do it as soon as possible in order to avoid appearing shady.
Legal Proceedings
In Texas, failure-to-yield car accidents are a felony and are punishable by a fine of over 3000 dollars. You have to pay damages to the victim, and your driving license will possibly be revoked due to your negligence.
Of course, you can try for an out-of-court settlement through your lawyer, but it doesn’t always work that way. You can appeal to the court that you are out of funds, and the court will proceed to reopen and modify the verdict. However, in the States, accident cases involving speeding, red light crossing, and drunk driving are taken seriously. Therefore, you can expect minimal support when you are at fault.
Of course, preventing an accident is better than handling one legally. Therefore, it’s best to follow the tips below.
Follow the Safety Precautions!
This is the cardinal rule when you are on the road. There’s a reason drunk driving is a punishable offence because it doesn’t end well for any of the two parties. The victim’s life or property is endangered while the at-fault driver has to appear in court. So, as always, it is better to be safe than to be sorry.
Accidents do occur as one often has very little control over certain circumstances. It is how you react under such unfortunate circumstances which will speak to who you are. Either you are a responsible citizen of your country or someone who causes irreparable damage to others without thinking twice about it. As an at-fault driver or a victim, you have specific legal paths to follow. Using this guide will help you navigate such difficult times.