Car Accident Lawyers South Dakota

If you have ever been injured in a car accident, then you have a lot of experience with how the car accident process works. However, if you have not been injured in a car accident until recently, you may have a lot of questions. It’s okay to have questions. That is why the car accident lawyers in South Dakota such as the ones available at The Law Offices of Clayborne, Loos & Sabers LLP created this FAQ.

A good car accident lawyer in South Dakota should be able to answer any and all of your questions, and if they do not have the answer, then they should find someone who does have the answer to help you.

Do I need to contact the police after a car accident?

In most cases the answer to this question is yes, because in South Dakota every driver who was in a motor vehicle accident must report said accident if somebody is injured, somebody dies in this accident, or where there is an estimate of over $2000 or more in damages to the car or person. Even if your accident is minor, you should still contact police because a traffic accident report will be created and this could be of great use to you if you go to court to obtain compensation for your accident. A traffic accident report takes away the guesswork.

Should I take photographs of my car accident scene?

If you can take photographs of the scene, you should because photographs are vital evidence to your accident investigation. So before your vehicle is moved, make sure to take photos or ask to have photos taken by somebody else who is able to show exactly where the vehicles collided and how they were collided together. You should also take photographs of relevant street signs, traffic signals and skid marks on the road. Everything can be useful if you are pursuing a case in court.

Should I talk to the other driver?

Yes. The short and simple of it is yes. However, you should keep the comments about driving and who is at fault to the minimum because anything you say to this person can be used to reduce or even deny your claim in full at court. It is very similar to the Miranda rights your police officer might read to you; you have the right to remain silent and you do not have to talk to the other driver if you do not want to. You should find out if the other driver and passengers are injured in the car and if they are you should call 911 and tell him to send for help immediately, however if everyone is okay then you should ask for full name, address, phone number, driver’s license number and insurance information. You should be prepared to give the same information to the other driver on your end.

Reach out to a car accident lawyer in South Dakota today if you have any more questions. Car accidents can be very complex and complicated. However, the right lawyer is on your side and can take a lot of that uncertainty away.