What to accomplish After an Automobile Mishap That is actually Certainly Not Your Error.
It may occur to any individual at anytime: You are actually driving to function, one palm twisted around a scorching mug of joe while you salute your mind to the songs. Quickly, you listen to the crisis of steel as your back is actually snagged strongly to and fro. The motorist responsible for you has actually rear-ended your automobile, probably while examining a text or even dabbling the broadcast dial. It is actually certainly not your mistake, today you possess as yet an additional product on your occupied program to manage. What should you carry out?
Vehicle mishaps are actually certainly never positive, however the adhering to info will definitely assist you attain the most ideal achievable result.
What to accomplish After an Automobile Mishap When it is actually Certainly not Your Error: Initial Step.
A number of the measures you take adhering to an auto incident coincide despite that’s at fault. But there are some things you can do to protect your interests in the event the other party leaves the scene of the accident, fails to report the accident, contradicts your account of the events, or is otherwise uncooperative.
Immediately Following the Accident.
First of all, take a deep breath and remain calm. If you are injured, get immediate medical attention (take notes about your injuries if possible). Check on all drivers and passengers who may be involved in the accident and help those in need of emergency care, but don’t move an injured person unless it is actually absolutely necessary for their safety. Make sure you move the vehicles out of traffic and onto the side of the road if possible; you don’t want to cause an unnecessary traffic jam or yet another collision.
Gather Information.
If it’s clearly the other driver’s mistake, such as the rear-end collision illustrated above, then he or she is responsible for reporting the accident to their insurer. Yet don’t just assume the other driver will take care of it; leaving the scene of an accident is a felony, but only if there’s evidence of the crime. That is why you want to collect the following information:
Name, address, and telephone number of the other driver Insurance company name and policy number of the other driver Witness statements and their contact information (if applicable) Photographs of the scene (including the license plate of the other driver) and the site of the damage.
Consider Calling the Police.
Even if it’s unclear whether you may have contributed to the accident, collecting the above information may help you make your case. If there are actually physical injuries (either to yourself, the various other driver, or passengers) or significant damage, you may want to call the police. Although a police report may not be admissible in civil court, it will give you leverage when giving your version of events or reaching a settlement.
After a Car Accident: What to Do When You Get Home.
Assuming you haven’t sustained serious injuries, you’ll want to take care of some additional steps after you get home (or the next morning, but as soon as possible). If you have injuries from the accident, be sure to keep detailed (and ongoing) notes. In a best-case scenario, the other driver will report the accident to his or her insurer and the insurance company will write you a check for your automobile damage and any medical expenses incurred.
Contact Your Own Insurance Company.
Car accidents often happen in the blink of an eye, which means you might not have a full picture of the events that led up to the collision. And yes, perhaps you were at fault, if only partially. Also, there may be instances where the other motorist’s insurance company denies responsibility. In either case, your own insurance company will need to know, either to launch a legal challenge against the other insurer or to process a collision claim for your vehicle. And by proactively contacting your insurance company, regardless of fault, you establish a good-faith effort at reporting the accident.
Consider Suing the Other Driver’s Insurance Company.
In most instances, the other celebration’s insurance company will take care of the damages you have incurred. But occasionally, especially in the absence of a police report, it may take the side of its policyholder and deny coverage. In this case, your own insurer may either cover the damage, sue the other company, or try to reach a settlement that works for all parties. But as a last-ditch effort, you always have the option of hiring a lawyer and suing the other party’s insurer yourself.
But keep in mind, there may not be enough evidence to make a solid case or the amount of money involved may not be worth the legal fees. In any event, make sure you carefully weigh the pros and cons of doing so before taking additional legal action.
Have an Attorney Evaluate Your Car Accident Claim.
Now that you know what to do after a car incident that’s not your fault, you may have additional questions about your legal options. An attorney can help you decide what course of action to take if it isn’t easily resolved. Get started today and contact an experienced motor vehicle incident legal representative near you.
