Steps To Follow After A Motor Vehicle Accident

Use these statements to agree or disagree with the following sayings.

Agreeing Half agreeing Disagreeing

V. SPEAKING

Fill in articles where necessary.

Civil law countries today include many countries in … Asia, including … Japan and … South Korea, countries of … Africa, including … Ethiopia, … Latin American countries, and most … European countries, most notably … France and … Germany. … United States and … United Kingdom and its commonwealth countries are common law, not civil law, countries. However, because of their French origins, … Quebec in … Canada, and … Louisiana in … United States have adopted and followed the civil law tradition.

 

1. You have three minutes to list the expressions in the box under one of the three headlines:

1. You’re absolutely right. 7. To a certain extent, but…

2. I don’t think that’s true. 8. I see what you mean, but…

3. I disagree, I’m afraid. 9. That’s true in a way, but…

4. I take your point, but… 10. That’s right.

5. Absolutely! 11. Well, it depends.

6. Do you really think so? 12. I would agree with that.

 

Good men must not obey the laws too well.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)

 

In commercial law, the person duped was too often a woman. In a section on land tenure, one 1968 textbook explains that "land, like women, was meant to be possessed."

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933 - ), U.S. jurist and educator.

 

In university they don't tell you that the greater part of the law is learning to tolerate fools.

Doris Lessing (1919 - ), British novelist and short-story writer.

 

Where there's a will, there's a lawsuit.

Attributed to Addison Mizner (1872 - 1933), U.S. architect.

 

2. The most common type of civil case (perhaps other than divorce matters) is a claim arising from an automobile crash (car, truck, van, semi or other vehicle collision). Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of accidental death and injury. In the following list the instructions for an aggrieved party are mixed. Arrange them in the right order. What should one do after an accident? Suggest your own ideas.

If you, or someone you know, has been injured in automobile collision you (or the person involved) should do the following:

1) Don't sign anything except a ticket, citation or report issued by police. Never sign anything else at the accident scene. Signing some types of documents may jeopardize your rights.

2) Get out of your vehicle. Although you must remain on the accident scene, remove yourself from further danger by getting out of your vehicle --- and out of traffic.

3) Turn off your engine to minimize the risk of fire.

4) Stop your car . . . no matter who is at fault, the law requires you to stop and exchange names, addresses and insurance information at the scene of an accident.

5) Collect information. If possible, collect information about the accident at the scene or as soon after as appropriate.

6) Call for police or medical assistance. Even if there are no injuries, assistance may be necessary to clear the accident scene, handle traffic, and file an accident report.

7) Inform your insurance company. Call your agent or your company's claims number and inform them that you have been involved in a collision and give them the information about the time, date and place of the collision and the people involved.

8) Don't discuss the accident . . . except for giving necessary details to police, medical personnel, your insurance company, or your attorney, do not discuss the accident...especially with insurance companies or lawyers representing other people or insurance companies.

Unit 1 Civil Law Section 2 Unification of European Civil Law