Those who have been in an accident should always contact the authorities, get medical assistance, and let their insurance company know what happened. Claiming damages from the other driver’s insurance company is an option if you weren’t at fault. According to Car accident attorney in Atlanta,The time after an accident that wasn’t your fault can be terrifying, but this book will walk you through everything you need to know to protect yourself, file a claim, and collect the compensation you deserve.
What To Do Immediately Following A Non-Fault Accident
After a car accident, even if it was not your fault, it might be difficult to remain calm and remember what needs to be done. Keep a checklist in your car’s glove compartment outlining these first steps.
- Right After The Impact
Find ways to keep yourself and people close to you safe. Here are several approaches that could help you accomplish your objective:
- Don’t risk injury; if you must pull over, do it in a safe area.
- Please contact emergency services if someone is hurt.
- Please contact local authorities and inform them about the accident.
Priority should be given to ensuring the well-being of others and limiting any harm done to anyone else.
- Get As Much Education As You Can
If the accident wasn’t your fault, proving what caused it is crucial. It’s possible that fixing the damage from accidents will come with a hefty price tag. As such, it may be necessary to record the events leading up to a collision in order to successfully sue the negligent driver for compensation.
To gather information that may be useful in the aftermath of an accident, prompt action at the scene is required. Several illustrative cases are shown below.
- Documentation of accident passengers and eyewitnesses
- Photos of the accident scene and the smashed cars
- Get in touch with details for the responding police force.
- An official account of what happened, such as a copy of the police report.
It may be impossible or difficult to get this information after some time has passed, so it’s important to collect as much as possible at the site.
What You Should Do Right Away If You’re In A Car Wreck
Injuries from car accidents are possible even when travelling at reasonable speeds. The crash’s physical impacts may not show up right once. In case of any issues, a comprehensive medical examination will reveal them. Doing so may increase the likelihood that you will get help quickly. The evidence of your injuries is crucial if you need to file a claim for compensation from the other driver.
Insurance Policies And Local Regulations
Each state has its own laws on who is responsible for accident damages.
Your insurance company in a no-fault state may cover your medical expenses and lost wages if the accident was minimal and the damages were low. For accidents that occur in these areas, regardless of fault, the other driver’s insurance company will only pay out a maximum sum, usually $10,000.
To a large extent, the actions you take after an auto accident, regardless of who was at blame, are standard in these jurisdictions. A careless driver can still be held financially responsible for any property damage they cause, even in no-fault states.
However, in other regions, the negligent driver is responsible for compensating the victim for their injuries and property damage.
It is important to understand the potential rules that apply to your situation so that you can evaluate whether you will receive compensation from your own insurer or the insurer of the at-fault driver.
Contact Your Private Health Insurance Company
Even if you think the other driver should pay for the damages, you should still notify your insurance company as quickly as possible following a car accident.
Even if the other driver acknowledges fault and pays compensation for a small accident, you should still contact your insurance provider. Doing so is important for a number of reasons. Reason enough to always notify your insurance provider after an accident:
- Even seemingly small incidents sometimes require costly repairs. A driver may not always have the money to pay as agreed upon under a payment plan.
- Your insurance company will help you file a claim with the irresponsible driver’s insurance provider.
The other driver’s insurance company might not be able to reimburse your medical bills and lost wages if you live in a no-fault state or if their policy limits are too low. If the negligent driver does not have enough insurance to cover your damages, your insurance company will pay up the difference if you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Fail to tell your insurer without risking your right to use the insurance coverage the company has guaranteed you. Serious problems may arise if the negligent party is not held financially responsible for the mishap.
