What to do After a Car Accident that is Not Your Fault

A car accident is a traumatic experience for anyone involved. This is even more pronounced when you did nothing to cause the accident. Your peace was shattered by the actions of another driver and now you are left to deal with the fallout. Many of the actions that you take in the wake of the accident will dictate whether you receive a settlement and how large the check is. Here are some steps that you can take after a car accident that was not your fault.

The Immediate Aftermath

Hopefully, you have not been severely injured in the accident and can take steps at the scene to lay the groundwork for a successful claim or lawsuit. The most important thing that you can do is act to preserve some of the evidence. The accident will likely be cleaned up not too long after it happened so you should try to take as many pictures as possible. In addition, there may be witnesses to the crash who are willing to give their account of what they saw. Make sure that you get their names and contact information along with their recollection of what happened. In addition, you should also contact the police and have them come to the scene of the accident. While they will not determine liability, they may give the other driver a citation for a moving violation which can go a long way to proving what happened. If you even suspect in the least that you may be injured, never refuse medical help at the scene of the accident.

Relax

You will need to collect your thoughts and try to center yourself because there will be a long process ahead of you. There is no denying that this can be scary. To the extent that you can, try to take a deep breath. The more that you are able to keep your wits about you, the better your decisions will be when trying to obtain a settlement. It is difficult to remain calm because you have likely suffered damages and want to know that you are going to be compensated for your harm. Try to worry about the big picture later on and focus on the steps you need to take now.

Call Your Insurance Company

Until you have a car accident attorney, your insurance company will be the one that is supposed to be your advocate. Their interest is avoiding you being found liable for the accident. They need to know the facts of what happened and by calling them, you will start the process of filing a claim for a settlement. At the very minimum, you do not want the other driver’s insurance to get a head start if liability is going to be an issue.

Get a Handle on the Damages

You will need to have some understanding of how much the damages are, even though it is difficult to value your own claim. Try to figure out how much the property damages are so you can have a sense of what you are owed. In addition, figure out how much money you have lost if you have missed any work due to the accident. At the same time, you want to understand what your insurance coverage is, especially if your car has been totaled.

Seeing a Doctor

If you have suffered any injury in an accident, you can be compensated for it. One of the elements of a claim that adds the most to the value of the lawsuit is the fact that there is a personal injury. While you may have been treated at the scene of the accident, it is important to establish the exact nature of the injury. You should make an appointment to see a physician as soon as possible after the accident in order to document the exact nature of your injuries. Your insurance will most likely cover the medical costs. If not, you can attempt to work something out with the physician given that you will be expecting a settlement.

Dealing with the Insurance

You do not have to speak with the other driver’s insurance. Your insurance will be the one that handles that for you. The other driver’s insurance may try to contact you to get you to make an admission against your interest. Remember that they are trying to find a way to get out of writing a potentially large check and will do anything that they can to reduce their liability. Be on the lookout because insurance companies have been known to resort to subterfuge to try to trick you. Do not talk to anyone about the accident except for your insurance company no matter what the person on the other end of the phone may say.

Hiring an Attorney

Perhaps the best thing that you can do after an accident is to get legal representation as soon as possible. Since the accident was not your fault, you will have a claim and a potential lawsuit. The problem is that the insurance company knows the value of your claim, but you do not. This places you at an information disadvantage. An attorney will know the value of your claim because this is what they do every day. Insurance companies will try to lowball settlement offers in the hopes that people who are desperate for money will accept. Oftentimes, this strategy works for them and it is accident victims who suffer. Your attorney will know that the insurance company is trying to take you for the proverbial ride and will advocate for your interests.

In addition, your attorney will help you in dealing with the insurance companies. The average person may be somewhat intimidated when dealing with an insurance company. They have a battery of lawyers at their disposal and it can be scary. When you hire an attorney, you can focus on dealing with the other aspects of your accident such as the physical and emotional trauma. Your attorney can act as your advisor and counselor in many different regards.

Contact Roberts Accident Law today if you or a loved one has suffered from a car accident.