Publication date: 26.01.2024
Hello! My name is Kyrylo Tomakh, I am a practicing lawyer and co-founder of the law firm DKVA Legal Group. For over 3 years, I have been helping clients protect their rights, find solutions to complex legal situations, and successfully resolve disputes both pre-trial and in court.
In Ukraine, as in many other countries, a traffic accident with victims can have serious legal consequences.
Here are some tips on how to behave in such situations:
Call emergency services:
- If you are convinced, call an ambulance and the police.
- If possible, give first aid to the victim, but avoid intervention unless you know how to do it safely.
Leave the place of the adventure:
Do not leave the scene of an accident without permission from the police. Wait for law enforcement to arrive.
Save the evidence:
- Take photos of the scene, vehicles, license plates, and get contact information for witnesses.
- Write down the names and numbers of insurance policy tags of other participants in the accident.
Do not plead guilty:
Refrain from entering guilty pleas without consulting an attorney.
Consult a doctor:
Get medical help for yourself and others involved in a car accident, even if the injuries appear minor. Medical records can be important in further legal proceedings, especially when defending a protection in an accident in court.
Get advice from a lawyer:
- If you have been arrested or you have become the object of legal actions, contact a lawyer who will provide legal protection in the event of a road accident.
- Do not make statements or sign documents without proper consultation with an attorney.
- Protecting rights in a road accident is a complex matter that is almost impossible to deal with on your own.
File an insurance case:
- Contact your insurance agent for further registration of the insurance event.
- If you are involved in an accident, especially one with injuries, it is important to follow the law and ethical standards.
- Avoiding responsibility through improper methods can create serious legal consequences and violate justice.
The best way to avoid a penalty is to follow the rules of the road, drive carefully and avoid using alcohol or drugs before driving. If you have already been involved in a traffic accident, it is important to act as described above: provide assistance to the victims, call emergency services, leave the scene only with the permission of the police and cooperate with law enforcement agencies.
It is also important to consult a lawyer for legal advice and assistance in further legal proceedings. Using illegal methods to avoid responsibility can only aggravate the situation and cause additional problems.
If the accident occurred due to the fault of a pedestrian, the situation may affect the determination of responsibility and subsequent legal consequences. However, some general principles are important to understand:
Assistance to the victim:
Regardless of who is at fault, the primary goal is to help the victim. Call an ambulance and administer first aid if you can.
Call the police:
Call the police and wait for their arrival.
The police will conduct an inspection of the scene and draw up an accident report. Protection of interests in an accident, if you do not have one - immediately seek legal help.
Get witnesses:
Ask for witnesses and get their contact details. The testimony of witnesses can significantly affect the investigation.
Document the event:
Take photos of the scene, keep all documents related to the accident and get the contact details of other participants.
Notify the insurance company:
If you are the driver of the vehicle, notify your insurance company about the incident. If you have witnesses, give their contact details to the insurer.
Follow the rules:
- Comply with traffic laws and as required by the police during the investigation.
- If a pedestrian is at fault in an accident, he may be sued for damages.
- This may include medical expenses, rehabilitation and other damages.
- It is important to consult with an attorney for professional legal advice in your specific situation.
