If you have been involved in a car accident that was not your fault, you may not know how you should proceed. It is likely that you are under some extra stress and you may even find yourself injured as a result of the accident. There are some proper procedures that you can take on to make sure that your rights are protected and that you could have access to compensation after the accident. Here are some top steps to take after a car accident that is not your fault:
Always remain at the scene:
Leaving the scene of an accident can damage your credibility and may even lead to charges.
Protect yourself first:
Try to leave your car in the same position it was after the accident if it’s in a highly dangerous location and you can still move the vehicle, try to move it over to the side of the road or into a safe position away from traffic.
Contact local law enforcement:
Always contact the police after an accident. Having a police report on hand is one of the best pieces of evidence in an accident claim.
Law enforcement is there to help:
Remaining calm and patient when explaining the accident to law enforcement will make sure that you can produce a credible witness account. Arguing or becoming disrespectful with the police can often lead to difficulty with your case.
Gather evidence:
Take photos of the vehicles, the people involved and any injuries that were sustained immediately. Gathering photos can make sure that you have applicable evidence that you will need for your insurance company.
Exchange information:
Make sure that you can gather contact information from the investigating officer, witnesses, all the drivers and passengers involved. Get all applicable phone numbers, addresses and more. Having this information can speed up your insurance claim.
Making a report to insurance:
Even if an accident is not your fault, you need to let your insurance company know about the incident. Reporting the incident as soon as possible can also make sure you are keeping a fresh account of the incident.
Go for medical treatment:
If you did not need emergency medical treatment at the scene, make sure that you get checked out by a doctor. Even waiting a few days can show that your injuries were not that severe. It is a much wiser choice to consider logging evidence of your treatment early on.
Keep a file of evidence:
Keep an electronic file or a physical file of all of the evidence including your photos, forms and more.
Speak to an attorney:
Speaking to a car accident attorney can help you through a car accident injury claim as was with processing your insurance claim.
Follow some of these top steps if you have been involved in an accident where you are not at fault. Contact us today if you have any questions about managing after an accident.
This post was written by Wendy Doyle-Palumbo. Wendy is a personal injury attorney in Pasco County at Wendy Doyle-Palumbo, Esq. Wendy has over 25 years of experience practicing law and has won several cases in helping those get the compensation that they deserve!