Did you know that every minute, 13 car accidents occur? Even worse is that; most accidents
occur from negligence, where one party is usually at no fault.
When you’re involved in an accident, your mind gets confused. Aside from any injury, you might
feel scared or traumatized. This is expected, but the most confusing bit for most people is the
question; ‘what do you do after a car accident that isn’t your fault?’
While compensation would be the first thing to come to mind, your health is more important. It’ll
be best to seek medical attention to take care of any injuries you may have. Also, involving a car
accident lawyer would be ideal, especially before talking to the insurance parties. The police
also play an essential role in any accident.
Generally, what you do will determine whether or not you will succeed in your accident injury
claim. The guide below provides proper steps to take after an accident with a commercial
vehicle that isn’t your fault. Read to the end!
What Do You Do After a Car Accident Isn’t Your Fault?
It’s against the law everywhere to flee an accident scene. If you’re involved in a car accident,
remain at the scene until the police and, most likely, the ambulance arrive. Even if the driver at
fault speeds away and leads to a hit-and-run, just stay and report everything.
No matter what happens, remain calm and follow the steps below. It would be best to have a
notebook to note crucial information at each stage.
● Speak to a Car Accident Lawyer
Not knowing how to handle a car accident that isn’t your fault is normal. Even in a traumatic
condition, it’s best to know who to trust when they’re asking for any information regarding the
accident.
Because compensation is the first thing you’d want, your car insurance company shouldn’t be
your first call. Speaking to a qualified and reliable car accident lawyer will help you get things
started in the claim process. Usually, car accidents have a significant impact on health and
finances and, are even more devastating, if it wasn’t your fault.
Nonetheless, working with an attorney specializing in car accidents will help protect your rights.
An experienced lawyer will make it easy to;
● Understand the legal process and documents involved
● Follow damages
● Get reasonable compensation for medical bills, repairs, and lost wages
Even though this will not restore your broken arms or ribs immediately, it’ll help you rebuild your
life. A car accident lawyer will also handle the insurance companies from your side and the
victim.
● Seek Prompt Medical Attention
Where there are crashed trucks, there’s a high likelihood of fatality or severe injuries. Thus, the
police and emergency services will be prompt to the accident scene. Medical experts will try to
perform first aid & CPR to hold severely injured victims until they reach the hospital.
If you’re lucky enough to walk away without serious injuries, don’t assume you’re fine. Most
people think the bruises, bumps and body aches are minor, and they don’t have to seek medical
attention. The truth couldn’t be any further because;
● Your health and safety should come first: If you can’t detect any visible injury, don’t
rule out the possibility of suffering from one. The trauma from accidents can induce an
adrenaline rush in the body that tends to mask pain. So, you may feel the impact only
after several days. Hence, allowing a physician to examine you and rule out any risks is
best.
● It can affect your insurance claim: In the case of an insurance claim or legal action
against the driver at fault, the opponent’s side and the insurance company will not take it
easy. They will try to rubbish and attack your claims citing that you didn’t incur any
injuries from the car accident. Fortunately, the medical documents will be enough
evidence for the court and insurance company. Even better, the medical documents are
valuable to the attorney when negotiating a better settlement. Besides, you shouldn’t pay
for injuries, repairs and lost wages if an accident isn’t your fault.
Even after the doctor clears you, it would be best to come back for tests after a while. This will
help you ascertain your health condition.
● Collect Adequate Evidence
Amidst the trauma of a car accident, it may be tough to remember how the accident occurred.
Accurately stating the events is crucial to winning a claim and protecting yourself if the claim is
challenged.
Try to take as many pictures or videos of the accident scene as possible. Preferably, take the
footage from different angles, even if you moved the vehicles. This way, it’ll be easier to
describe the traffic, weather, road conditions and other valuable information.
Usually, car accidents have several witnesses. It would help to get a willing witness to give you
their name and contacts. Getting their testimony in your video will help you in court.
Lastly, write down or record your memories every time you remember something. Several
pieces of your memory can help you remember how everything happened to make a factual
statement. But still, even the fragments will help you support your case if necessary.
● Contact Insurance Companies
In a car accident that isn’t your fault, it would be best to inform your insurance provider. Your
statement and the evidence you have will help them fight the other driver’s case against you.
Additionally, your insurance company will negotiate with the driver’s insurance on the cost of
repairs. But, this will depend on your type of insurance coverage.
However, be very careful when signing documents from insurance companies. This is where a
car accident lawyer comes in to help you understand the terms and conditions of all documents.
If you’re not keen, you may sign agreeing to a smaller settlement or clearing them of liability.
Remember to make and keep copies of every document you sign.
Key Takeaways
Any vehicle collision is a stressful and traumatic experience, whether you’re at fault or not. Most
importantly, knowing what to do, especially when the fault isn’t yours, will help you make your
claims.
The most crucial factor to help you get a smooth and successful process is hiring an
experienced car accident lawyer. Such an expert attorney will help you attain the peace of mind
you need throughout uncertainty and recovery.
