Hi! My name is Sam, and I started this blog to help other injured people. Before you start reading, let me tell you a little about myself. Ten years ago, I slipped on a slice of fruit in a grocery store. My leg slid out from under me, and in a freak twist, it was rendered useless. I could no longer work and struggled with intense pain every day. Luckily, I found an accident and injury attorney who was able to get me the compensation I needed to cover my medical bills and my lost time at work. However, while I waited for the settlement to come through, I had to get creative physically and financially. This blog is dedicated to anyone who is in that limbo position. I hope the posts here help you decide what to do while you wait for the results of your trial.
Nobody ever thinks they're going to be involved in a car accident, but it happens to more than two million people across the United States each year. As such, it's a good idea for all drivers to not only know what steps to follow after a car accident, but to know about some specific mistakes that need to be avoided. By doing so, you can get past your auto accident and get on with your life.
Leave the Scene
So, you were backing your car out of a parking space and accidentally scuffed a nearby car with your bumper. You don't see any damage, and the driver of the other vehicle is nowhere in sight. It's okay to leave the scene, right? Actually, this is not recommended. No matter how minor the damage may be, you should never leave the scene of an accident (even a minor one) without first exchanging information with the other driver involved. Do your best to locate the driver by going into nearby stores or buildings and asking around for the driver of the described vehicle. If all else fails, leave a note with your contact information so you can exchange insurance information later that day.
Decide Not to Call Police
If there don't appear to be any injuries and you've already exchanged insurance information with the other driver, is there really a need for getting the police involved? In most cases, yes. If the accident occurred on a public road (i.e. not in a private parking lot or on personal property), you'll want to have a police report on file that details the specifics of your accident, as your insurance company may require it down the road. Not to mention, even if the other driver provided you with insurance information, how can you be sure it's not expired or fraudulent? A police officer will be able to run the other driver's information and make sure it's valid.
Admit Fault
The last thing you should do after getting into a car accident is admit fault. Even if you think the accident was your fault, you shouldn't admit it to the other driver or even to police. Otherwise, this information could be used to bring a lawsuit against you and your insurance company may not be able to help you out. It's okay to show genuine concern and make sure the involved parties are okay, but admitting guilt could come back to bite you. On the same note, don't expect the other party to admit guilt--even if the accident was clearly their fault. This will be determined later on, provided you don't live in a no-fault state.
Get Ripped Off
Last but not least, if you're offered a settlement for the accident by the car insurance company, never accept the first offer. Instead, work with an experienced personal injury lawyer to assess your case and make sure you're getting a fair offer. Chances are, your first offer will be low-balled.
To learn more, contact a personal injury attorney.
Share30 October 2015
