If you’ve been in a car accident, your immediate concern is your own safety and that of any passengers. Your secondary concern is the condition of your car. Your tertiary concern is how to deal with and seek compensation for the accident.

That third concern may seem a distant one at the time of the accident, but in the highly litigious society of today, it’s very important to know your rights as the accident victim, and to know them immediately so that you know how best to respond on the scene.

Different States, Different Rights

These rights may change based on where you live. The pertinent laws of the state of Michigan may differ from those of Indiana, so an accident lawyer Michigan residents can rely on is one based in Michigan, just as an Indiana resident would want an Indiana lawyer and so on.

Some Things are the Same

Still, you can expect certain rights whatever your state. These may include payment for medical care for injuries received from the accident, not to mention a complete evaluation by a doctor who focuses on injuries due to vehicle accidents. If you are disabled as a result of the accident, you might expect ongoing care to treat the disability. Perhaps your car was totaled or your property damaged—these are things the perpetrator should pay for.

People who cause accidents cannot simply undo them. The function of the law is to get as close to undoing the damage as possible, usually in the form of payment for recovery.