Car accidents happen every day, but what happens when you are NOT at fault for the collision? What if the person who who caused the collision was drunk or negligent?
The first step in what to do after a car accident not your fault is determining whether or not the accident was your fault.
Car accidents often result from negligence on behalf of one party, which means that someone may be liable for damages. However, if you were found at fault, you need to contact an attorney and file a claim against the other person’s insurance company. In both cases, the best thing to do is speak with a reliable personal injury lawyer.
In this article, we will discuss what steps you need to take after an accident if it was not your fault and also answer some of the commonly asked questions.
What Should You Do Immediately After A Car Accident?
First, call 911 as soon as you can. Then, if possible, take pictures of the accident scene with your phone and write down all relevant details. These include location, time of day, weather conditions if it is raining or foggy outside, names and contact information for any witnesses to the event (preferably those who have agreed to speak with the police).
Do not admit fault or make any statements about who was at fault for the accident. Request that an officer take your statement as soon as possible following the incident so you can provide details promptly and have evidence to support your story in case of a challenge later on.
If there are injuries, take pictures or video of the injuries, while including any blood visible on your body or clothes. Besides, take photos of your vehicle to show damage and provide estimates from repair shops if needed. If you are involved in a hit-and-run accident, take as many detailed photographs as possible showing the front end and sides (including license plate) of the car that struck you.
On the other hand, if you are injured as a passenger in someone else’s vehicle, make sure that you also take photos and videos of your injuries. If the other driver has fled the scene, get their license plate information and report them to the police immediately.
Next, if you are injured and need to go to the doctor for treatment, find a physician who will speak with your insurance company about costs incurred due to an automobile collision. Keep receipts for anything related to the accident, such as medical expenses or car repairs. Finally, call your insurance company and inform them of an accident, even if it is not your fault.
What Happens If You Have A Car Accident And It’s Not Your Fault?
Car accidents often result from negligence on behalf of one party, which means that someone may be liable for damages. In addition, these accidents can result in serious injuries, which is why it’s important to contact an experienced injury lawyer after an accident that was not your fault.
What Are The Follow-Up Tasks After A Car Accident?
Car accidents are not always easy to claim against, as every party might argue not to be at fault. However, the follow-up tasks below will significantly help in making sure that you win a fair settlement.
- Take pictures, videos of your injuries, and any other important details on the scene of the accident if possible
- Speak to an attorney
- File a claim against the insurance company
- Report your injuries and damages sustained in the accident to your employer. In some cases, you may need medical documentation from your physician or healthcare provider for this process.
The next step is consulting a reliable personal injury attorney who can help you recover damages. Such damages include lost wages, medical expenses due to pain and suffering, missed work, and other costs that resulted from the accident. Car accidents happen every day, but what happens when it was not your fault?
What Do You Do After A Minor Car Accident?
Car accidents happen every day, but what happens when the person who caused the collision was drunk or negligent? The first step in what to do after a car accident not your fault is determining whether or not the accident was your fault.
If you were not at fault, you need to contact an attorney and file a claim against the other person’s insurance company. In both cases, the best thing to do is speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer about what steps you can take next after such an accident.
Should I Call My Insurance If It Wasn’t My Fault?
Yes, car accidents can lead to severe injuries, which may cause you to incur huge costs in seeking treatment and in terms of lost wages and pain and suffering. Thus, you need to alert your insurance company to make sure that you are on the safe side when seeking compensation for your damages.
It’s always a good idea to call your insurance company, but you can also contact an attorney for additional help if needed. Car accidents are often caused by negligence on behalf of one party, so it doesn’t matter who was at fault in the collision because someone is liable. The other person’s insurance company should pay any claims against them and their policyholder.
How Do You Deal With A Car Accident That Wasn’t Your Fault?
If you’re injured, and it is not your fault, then you’re entitled to compensation that will offset some or all of the damages. Car accidents can be severe due to their nature. Therefore, speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer if this happens to you because they know what’s available for people in these situations.
Does Your Insurance Go up Even If It’s Not Your Fault?
No, your insurance rates will not increase if it’s not your fault. However, you may have to pay for damages that resulted from the accident, and this could be a large sum of money in some cases, so check with an experienced attorney first.
What Happens When the Other Driver Is At Fault?
If there are injuries, then emergency personnel will be dispatched to assess and treat any victims. They may need to contact a medical professional depending on the severity of the injuries.
Next, make sure that your car’s airbags have been deployed and that your car is turned off. You should never get out of a vehicle with an airbag deployed, or you could be injured if it suddenly inflates again. Once all the victims have been assessed by emergency personnel, contact the police to file a report on what happened.
You will need to provide information such as:
- The time and location of the accident
- The type of vehicle you were driving
- Your insurance company information, including name, address, contact information for your agent or broker if applicable, policy number, much more.
- The other driver’s license plate number (if a car) or their full name (if on foot), and their insurance company information
- A list of all the witnesses who saw what happened, including contact information for any potential personal injury lawyer that they may be recommended
If you were injured in a car accident, not your fault, then it is important to get treatment as soon as possible. Car accidents can result in injuries ranging from minor to severe.
Why Does My Insurance Go Up When I Am Not At Fault?
This will depend on your policy. When you purchase car insurance, the insurer assigns risk to each driver. If they find that you are more likely than average to have an accident or cause one, then your premiums will be higher and vice versa for low-risk drivers.
Therefore, the short answer is that it depends. Car accidents often lead to an increase in insurance rates. But if you blame someone who was at fault for the accident and can prove it with evidence, your rate might not be affected or go up just a little bit.
However, there are other factors that can result in increased rates, such as your age, previous accidents, and other factors.
For example, if the accident was not your fault, but you were found at fault for another car accident in the past, then it is likely that your insurance rates will increase because of this history.
Insurance companies see an increased risk when they insure somebody who has a history of being in accidents. Thus, this is why rates may be increased when you have an accident that was not your fault.
Insurance companies also look at factors such as age and driving record to determine how much risk they’re willing to take on by insuring somebody. If the insurance company feels like there’s a high level of risk with insuring you, they may increase your rates.
How Does Insurance Work If Someone Hits Your Car?
Insurance claims can be complicated, but you are entitled to compensation after an accident if it was not your fault. The best way to recover losses from a car accident is by speaking with a reliable personal injury attorney who will help determine whether or not there may have been negligence on behalf of another party.
If someone hits your car, their insurance company is responsible for paying you any money you are entitled to receive in your claim. Remember, car accidents may cause serious bodily injury, including physical pain and suffering or mental anguish and anxiety. These damages can be emotional but still have financial repercussions on your life if the other party’s negligence caused them.
Car accident injuries result in headaches, nausea, dizziness, and blurred vision. Usually, some of these injuries often lead to missed work or school time due to their severity. You may also have physical impairments that require expensive medical treatment on an ongoing basis resulting from the negligence of another party.
If you’re injured, and it is not your fault, then you’re entitled to compensation that will offset some or all of the damages. However, if you are at fault for an accident, you need to contact your insurance company. In this case, you speak with them about filing an insurance claim.
What to Do After an Accident That Is Not Your Fault?
If you are involved in an accident that is not your fault, you need to act as quickly as possible. Car accidents are often sudden and unexpected, so it is important to act immediately to protect your rights. If you wait too long before seeking compensation or care for injuries, the statute of limitations will expire when you can file a claim against the other person’s insurance company.
An experienced personal injury lawyer should be able to help you understand the timeframes for filing a claim and assist with the process. Don’t discuss liability or fault with anyone other than your lawyer. Car accidents can lead to tense situations, which is why it’s important not to speak about who was at fault until after consulting an attorney.
If you do talk about what happened with the other driver, their passengers, or anyone else who witnessed it can get you in legal trouble. Car accidents are often reported to insurance companies and police departments, so there is no need for you to do this on your own.
Next, prepare an inventory of damages incurred from the accident with a list of lost items, medical expenses, and other costs. Car accidents are stressful and confusing, which is why it’s important to have every detail documented if you need to file a claim or pursue legal action against the driver who caused your accident.
Document what happened from the start until finish, including any telephone calls you made following the incident. Car crashes often lead to many phone calls, so it is important to have these documented. Who were you on the call with? What was discussed? When did this happen, and how long did it last? Car accidents are personal injury cases, so many different types of evidence might need to be gathered for your case to move forward.
Lastly, don’t sign any agreements or deals without speaking to your lawyer. Car accidents can lead to an agreement between the parties involved. However, it is important not to agree on a settlement until consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney who has experience in this area of law.
Should I Get A Lawyer For Car Accident?
This is a question that many people have. But, unfortunately, car accidents happen often, and the aftermath of an accident can be pretty stressful, especially when you are not at fault for what happened.
If you are not at fault, you should speak with a lawyer to see if they can help with your situation. Car accidents often lead to personal injury or property damage, and the best way for an attorney to evaluate these cases is by speaking directly with their client.
Many lawyers offer free consultations, in which case it would be worth meeting them in person to see if they can help. For example, personal injury lawyers often have very reasonable rates and offer free consultations where the lawyer will assess your situation and let you know whether they can take on your case.
Final Thoughts
Car accidents can happen at any time. Thus, be sure to protect yourself by knowing what the do’s and don’ts are when they occur to get the best possible outcome. In case of a car accident not your fault, speaking to a personal injury attorney would be the right step.
Car accidents often lead to injuries that can be pretty costly. Consequently, it is worth speaking with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible if you are unsure of your rights following such an accident. Speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer today before making any decisions about handling this situation.
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