Protect your legal rights in Rhode Island before a car accident happens

Car crashes are one of those painful experiences that every driver seems to have at least once in their lifetime. Regardless of how careful or safe a driver you are, it is impossible to control the actions of other drivers. However, you can protect your legal rights in Providence County before you are in a car accident by preparing an accident kit, reviewing your insurance coverage and being aware what you should and should not say.

The accident kit

An accident kit helps you stay organized and be able to gather the information and evidence you need if you are in a collision. The accident kit should consist of accident forms that you may be able to obtain through an insurance company or create yourself, paper and pens, flashlight, warning flares or triangles, an emergency contact list, a disposable camera and a list of any allergies or health conditions you, or members of your family, have.

If you create your accident form, there should be sections to collect information about witnesses, the actual events of the accident, the names and contact information for all drivers, insurance policy information, law enforcement name and badge number, police report number and description of the road conditions. The disposable camera allows you to take photos of the scene. If your phone has a camera and takes clear pictures, then you could rely on that instead.

The insurance policy

Many times, people are unaware of what their car insurance policy actually covers in the event that they are injured or involved in a car accident. According to Edmunds, it is important to review your auto insurance policy to make sure that it will provide for your needs. Items to check for include:

  • Rental car reimbursement
  • Deductible you pay before the insurance company pays
  • Towing coverage
  • Uninsured driver insurance
  • Passenger injury protection

In addition to understanding the limits and provisions of your insurance policy you should always make sure that you do not make a decision that could violate the terms of your policy. For example, if you fail to make an immediate claim because another driver initially promised to pay for the damage to your car out-of-pocket, then you could jeopardize that claim. By always reporting an accident to your insurance company, you also avoid getting sued by the other driver if they try to claim that the accident was your fault, and hold you financially responsible.

Knowing what to say at the scene

An accident is a stressful event and sometimes, people say things that can come back to haunt them later on. You should always remember that when an accident happens, the other drivers are going to blame you, even if they know that they were at fault. If you say things like "I am so sorry" or "I didn't see the other car", you could unknowingly be implicating yourself as the driver at fault.

In addition, it is advisable not to say anything about your medical condition since injuries often appear after the initial shock has worn off. To make sure that you don't say something you will regret, you should immediately contact an experienced attorney to provide you with legal advice.