What To Do After A Car Accident That’s Not Your Fault
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| What To Do After A Car Accident That’s Not Your Fault |
Coping with the aftermath of a vehicle crash is difficult under any circumstances. Knowing that the accident wasn't your fault just makes things worse. You may be feeling overwhelmed and confused about what to do in the face of these unforeseen expenses.
Even though Georgia is a "fault" state, the at-fault driver in an accident should still be required to pay for the other party's losses if they were not responsible for the crash. Find out how to better your chances of receiving full compensation here.
How Should You Handle the Situation Following an Accident If It Was Not Your Fault?
Assess for Injuries, Then Get to Safety After an Accident
Stay calm and take deep breaths if you're involved in a car crash. The next step is to make sure everyone is okay, including yourself. Get emergency medical assistance if your injuries are serious or life threatening. Any other motorists or passengers should expect the same.
Be sure everyone is out of the path to stop any more injuries or destruction. The cars should be moved out of the way of traffic if they are in the centre of the road. If you don't know where the cars are, don't move them. It's also crucial to keep the accident site intact.
Quickly notify the authorities
Reporting an accident is required by law in all 50 states, but leaving the site of an accident is illegal in all of them. In the event of:
- an automobile collision in a city that mandates a crash report, you must contact the police immediately in Georgia.
- A serious harm or fatality
- If the damage to your property is greater than $500, you should file a claim.
If your insurance company requests it, you'll need to report the incident as well. This leaves almost no situations in which you wouldn't have to report an accident. That being said, dial 911 and inform the authorities. Even if the other car doesn't stop, you should still record the collision as a hit-and-run.
Collect Evidence While Waiting for the Police
When police arrive, they will question you and the other driver to determine what happened (s). But you should probably do this on your own, too.
- Drivers' names, contact numbers, and mailing addresses
- Names and policy numbers of insurance companies for all drivers
- Photographs of the accident site, any injuries, and any damage to vehicles
- Any and all witness contact information
The negligent motorist is the one who must notify their insurance company of a collision. Regrettably, not everyone does the right thing. Evidence of the accident and the extent of the damage can be documented through independent investigation. In addition, you'll need it to submit a claim for damages to the insurance company of the motorist who caused your injuries.
Alert Your Insurance Provider
The other driver's insurance company should pay for your injuries and property damage if you were completely blameless for the collision. All of the expenses related to the incident ought to be covered by the insurance company. Although things are rarely so black and white.
As for-profit enterprises, insurance firms naturally aim to increase their profit margins. The insurance company for the negligent motorist may give you trouble. They might do any of the following:
- offer you a substantially less settlement sum
- attempt to blame you for all or part of the accident
- completely deny your claim
You should notify your insurance carrier of the incident for your own safety. It will show good faith on your part, and it will also serve as a warning in case the other driver's insurance company tries to blame you for the accident. Your vehicle accident attorney can advise you avoid saying or doing anything that might hurt your case.
Attend to Your Health
See a doctor as quickly as possible after leaving the scene, even if you think you're fine. Whiplash is one injury sustained in vehicle accidents that doesn't manifest until some time after the incident. Even if you don't notice any changes right away, a visit to the doctor might help you take preventative measures.
Visiting a doctor will also demonstrate to the insurance firm that the injuries you sustained are significant enough to warrant medical care. They are more likely to pay for damages for which you can provide solid proof.
Get in Touch with a Lawyer If You've Been in an Automobile Accident
At best, the at-fault driver's insurer will pay for your losses. Unfortunately, it's more common to be countered with a low offer and forced to battle for your rightful recompense. A lawyer who specialises in vehicle accidents would be very helpful now.
A competent legal representative can negotiate a satisfactory settlement with the insurer. Most instances involving automobile accidents are settled at this point. The insurance firm may maintain its denial of coverage or a larger compensation in specific situations. To get what's rightfully yours, you can file a lawsuit against the business.
Your attorney can help you win your case regardless of the circumstances. They may negotiate with the insurer on your behalf and make sure you get what you're owed.
Carefully consider the Insurance Company
Think carefully about what you say and do in the aftermath of the crash. The other driver's insurance company will start looking into the incident as soon as it is reported. They could try to get in touch with you or show up at the accident site.
Do not offer the insurance company any written or recorded statements in which you take responsibility for anything. Anything you say might be used against you in the future. Having a vehicle accident attorney lined up ahead of time allows you to focus all attention on them.
Get a Free Consultation with a Lawyer to Discuss Your Auto Accident Claim
If you were a passenger in an automobile accident that wasn't your fault, you may be wondering and worrying about a number of things. As a company, John Foy & Associates is aware of this. This is why we always provide a complimentary phone consultation to go through the details of your case. We've been helping victims of auto accidents for over 20 years, so we know what it takes to win.