What To Do After Accident Not Your Fault – No matter how hard you drive after a car accident that wasn’t your fault. It doesn’t matter how safe your roads are. Car accidents can happen to anyone. But car accidents are often worse when someone other than you is at fault. Because you have little control over the situation, not only can the wrong driver save the scene, …
It doesn’t matter how long you drive. It doesn’t matter how safe your roads are. Car accidents can happen to anyone. But car accidents are often worse when someone other than you is at fault. Because you have little control over the situation, not only may the at-fault driver flee the scene, but the driver and the car insurance company may deny all liability. As a result, you may receive little or no compensation for car accident injuries and damages that you did not cause. It doesn’t get any more unfair than this. That’s why we’re giving you seven effective steps so you can be fully prepared the next time you’re involved in a car accident that wasn’t your fault.
What To Do After Accident Not Your Fault
7 Immediate Steps to Control Injuries and Stay Safe After a Car Accident That Wasn’t Your Fault
What To Do After A Car Accident
First of all take a deep breath. Check that everyone and yourself are okay. If someone in the car suffers life-threatening injuries, get medical help immediately. Do not leave an injured person unless they are in a place where the person is in great danger. If the car accident happened in the middle of the traffic, make sure that all people and all vehicles involved in the car accident move to the side of the road to avoid further damage. Otherwise, keep the accident scene intact for investigation. Then keep your hazard lights on until the police arrive.
According to Florida State law (see Section 316.066), you must give your information to the other driver and the police. If the driver fled and the police did not come, file an accident report at the nearest police station. Get the names, numbers, email addresses, vehicle identification numbers (VINs), insurance company names and policy numbers of all the drivers involved.
Take photos of the car accident scene, weather, serious injuries, vehicle damage, other property damage, and license plates of all drivers. List the make and model of all cars at the scene. The most important thing is to gather as much information as possible from the other driver. Also, don’t forget your witnesses! Collect contact information and details of the accident. Their comments will be invaluable in building your car accident case.
Don’t try to negotiate with the other driver – even if the driver doesn’t want the police or their insurance company involved. Instead, we strongly recommend that you call the police regardless of the severity of the accident. This is because the police will act as your sole agent to file a proper police report and hold the driver responsible. First of all, the laws regarding reporting a car accident vary from state to state, but it is illegal to flee the scene of an accident across the country. When speaking with the reporting agent, be sure to ask for their name, contact information, and identification number.
Common Do’s And Don’ts Of Car Accidents
See a doctor as soon as possible – even if you are fine. Because of a high-impact collision, your body releases adrenaline that can mask pain and other post-accident symptoms. As a result, you may not feel the pain until hours or days later.
Car accident injuries such as whiplash, concussions and brain injuries develop slowly, so it’s best to treat them before they get worse. Also, check for internal cuts and cracks. These injuries, such as internal bleeding and swelling, can be life-threatening if not treated immediately. Contact a medical practice that treats car injuries if this option is available. Alternatively, visit your primary care physician (PCP). Keep all medical bills, medical records and lost wages. These will be used as leverage to increase your settlement amount later.
As you gather your perspective on the accident, write down as much information as possible about the accident with a pen and paper. Create a suitable map showing the route of each vehicle and the location of the accident. Describe weather conditions and any other circumstances related to the accident.
When gathering information, do your best not to discuss the car accident with other people involved – even if it is clear who is responsible. Never plead guilty or make a written or recorded statement that others can use against you. Leave these discussions to the police, insurance companies, and car accident lawyers. Collect information, even if the police take notes. That way, if you have one, you can still tell the story of your serious accident to your insurance company, the other driver’s insurance company, and an attorney. Have all the evidence you have to support your conflict claim.
How To Prove A Car Accident Was Not Your Fault
Florida is a crime free state. This means that if you have a personal accident, your insurance company should automatically pay you under your personal injury protection (PIP) – no matter what caused the car accident. However, all damages and injuries may exceed the required coverage, causing you to file a third-party claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. The driver’s insurance should be responsible for your damages and pay you all the costs of the accident. But unfortunately, for-profit insurance companies often try to avoid liability in order to meet their bottom line, so you’re more likely to fall behind them. They will offer you a very low settlement, try to blame you in some way for the accident, or even deny your car accident claim altogether. When this is the case, ask your insurance company to speak to the fault insurance provider on your behalf. Be prepared to tell your entire accident story in detail and have your evidence ready to support all your claims. But if the at-fault insurance company still denies all liability, consider contacting a Florida car accident lawyer to get the compensation you deserve.
We recommend that you speak with an experienced car accident attorney before speaking with your car insurance company. Insurance companies usually need to protect the best interests of the business from the driver. This is especially true when the insurance adjuster mistakenly lowers your counter offer.
An experienced personal injury attorney can file a car accident lawsuit and negotiate with insurance companies for a fair settlement on your behalf. An experienced attorney can thoroughly investigate the accident to build a stronger case in a personal injury case.
The other driver must pay you the value of your car in cash – that is, if your car is worth the full price. Typically, insurance companies determine this cost by taking the difference between the cost of your replacement car and the cost of the deductible. The driver is also responsible for collecting sales tax on the transfer vehicle.
Things You Should Do After A Car Accident
In a no-fault accident the at-fault driver’s insurance company is responsible for paying (see Section 324.021). However, this type of insurance claim process takes a long time. So if you need to get your car back on the road, you may have to pay the deductible amount yourself.
If you are seriously injured in an accident through no fault of your own, you can still seek compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If the coverage can’t cover all of your medical expenses, you can still use your uninsured motorist coverage to cover your bills.
Even car accidents you didn’t cause can increase your insurance rates – but the increase will still be lower than the at-fault driver’s insurance rate. If you want to lower your rate after a no-fault accident, you will need to purchase additional coverage options or adjust your existing insurance coverage.
It’s not fair for someone to leave you empty-handed after such a traumatic experience. If you have been involved in a car accident in Florida, contact Denman Pearlman Personal Injury Law to speak with one of our car accident attorneys so we can fight for the compensation you deserve. In Brooksville, New Port Richey, St. Petersburg, and Tampa. Also, check out our website for more car accident blog posts. Establishing who is at fault is one of the key aspects of any car accident claim. A single driver may be at fault, or liability may be shared between two or more drivers involved in the accident. Third parties may also be liable.
What Happens If You Get In An Accident Without Insurance?
After an accident, you may think you know who is responsible—especially if the other driver acted recklessly before the accident. However, negligence in a car accident claim can be complicated. It is in your best interest to work with a car accident attorney who can help you protect your legal rights.
Colombo Law serves clients injured in car accidents in Columbus, Hebron, Circleville, Fairmont, Chillicothe and other areas of Ohio. Please call (614) 362-7000 today for a free consultation.
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