There are no shortage of public service announcements warning drivers away from using their cell phones when they drive. While it is never smart to text and drive or talk on the phone while driving, it is smart to always have a cell phone with you when you are driving. Keep reading to find out about three of those reasons. If you have been injured in a car accident then we urge you to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for your free legal consultation.
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Your Cell Phone Makes It Easy to Call for Help
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Your Cell Phone Makes It Easy to Take Photos
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Your Cell Phone Makes It Easy to Gather Contact Information for Witnesses
In the event that someone suffers a catastrophic injury, whether a person lives or dies can depend entirely on how long help takes to arrive. If you do not have a cell phone and must wait for someone to show up on the scene who does, the result could be more serious injuries or even death.
Even if there are not significant injuries, you will want to call the police if property damage exceeds $950. Once again, it is much easier to do so if you have your own phone and do not have to count on someone else at the scene to call.
Once you are sure everyone is reasonably safe, it is smart to take photos of the scene. This should include all involved vehicles, their license plates, and the damage done to them. You may also want to take photos of the scene itself and other things that affected the accident. Photos taken after the accident, even as quickly as the following day, may not properly show the scene as it was at the time of the accident.
It is common for a person involved in a car accident to assume that when the police arrive at the scene, they will gather contact information for all witnesses. The bad news is that this is not always the case. The police officer’s job is not to help you with your personal injury claim – they are there to serve and protected. If there are other issues they deem more pressing, they may forget to get contact details for one or more witnesses.
It is also possible for the police to inadvertently collect inaccurate witness contact information. The bottom line is that when you have a cell phone at the scene of an accident, you have the opportunity to gather information for yourself. You can ensure that everyone present has given their contact information, that photos have been taken, and that the right emergency personnel are contacted.
Once you leave the scene, remember to contact a personal injury attorney. The sooner you call us at 909-982-0707, the better our overall access to evidence.
