Exploring The Legal Process

Bruce Jenner has been in the news for decades, and most recently, he has received attention after being in a car crash in which one woman died. Although it may take years to determine who if anyone was liable for that accident, drivers can learn from Jenner's positive response to the accident. If you are ever in an accident for which you may be held criminally or financially liable, follow Jenner's lead and do these five things:

1. Establish your sobriety

According to media reports of Jenner's car accident, he submitted to a field sobriety test after the accident. In most cases, officers will not ask for a test unless you seem inebriated, but if you want to be on the safe side ask to take a breathalyzer anyway. So that the victim can never take you to court and argue that you were impaired by drugs during the accident, you can also go to the hospital and have your blood drawn and tested.

2. Hand over your phone and phone records

The measures above help to establish that you were sober during the accident, but if possible, you should also try to establish that you were not distracted by your phone. In Jenner's case, he reportedly showed the police his phone to prove that he had not been talking on it at the time of the accident. Additionally, he is providing the investigating officers with copies of his texting records.

After an accident, take a screenshot of your recent calls to show that there weren't any and contact your cell phone provider about getting text message records.  Even if you live in a state where texting or talking while driving is legal, this information can still be used to establish that you were not irresponsibly distracted.

3. Gather statements or pictures from witness

If a victim of the accident takes you to court, your phone records can be helpful in showing that you were not distracted during the accident. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to pinpoint the exact time of the accident, and therefore texts or calls from a few minutes before the accident can look as if they happened during it.

To help establish a timeline, talk to as many witnesses as possible. Although Jenner has not been documented as speaking with witnesses, he is in a unique position in that he is a celebrity followed by paparazzi. Their pictures may provide necessary proof about when the accident occurred or how it occurred. If you are not lucky enough to have paparazzi following you, get the names and numbers of any bystanders as soon as possible. Memories fade, and it is important to record the memories of witnesses as soon as possible.

4. Hire a lawyer

If someone is injured or dies in an accident, they or their family can take the driver who caused the crash to court. There, they can try to hold you responsible for medical bills, car repairs, wrongful death and other expenses. In Jenner's case, he was not even the only driver involved in the accident. However, rather than just sitting back and assuming that someone else would be blamed, he still reached out to a lawyer for help. This can be the most essential part of protecting yourself legally after an accident.

5. Do not talk to others

Unlike Jenner, you may not be called by the media after an accident, but if you get called by the local paper or the other driver's insurance company, follow Jenner's lead and decline to comment. If you say the wrong thing, you could implicate yourself. Instead, let your car crash attorney handle any questions.