Motor vehicle accidents happen all the time, even to cautious drivers who were not impaired. It’s just an unfortunate fact of life. If you’re ever in an accident, there’s a lot that you should consider so that you don’t end up getting the short end of the stick. Knowing what to expect and how to respond after a motor vehicle accident is also important when it comes to protecting your financial future.
When an accident happens, it’s important to remain calm. This might require you to take deep breaths so that you can minimize that impact that it has on your health. Even if you don’t suffer any physical damage, an accident can cause emotional trauma that will need to be addressed. Whether or not you have car insurance, one of the best things you can do is contact an accident attorney that understands the law, and can provide you with the guidance you need to protect yourself.
Whether you or the other driver was at fault, working with an attorney at law is wise. You’ll first have to assess the accident to see if anyone was injured. After assessing whether anyone was injured, you may need to call 911 to get the assistance of police and medical professionals. If you are in an accident that’s considered a fender bender and nobody is injured, there still might be a need to call the police if anyone involved in the accident is confrontational or doesn’t want to exchange insurance information, which is important.
Another reason why you might want to contact the police is to get an official accident report. However, just keep in mind that the police will not come to a minor accident; they require you to file a police report on your own by going to the police department. This is a good idea so that you have a report that you can provide to your insurance company. If you have a Smartphone with a camera, you should absolutely take pictures of the accident scene before the vehicles are moved. It’s always good to have as much documentation as possible, which is why it’s important to write down what happened right after the accident. The pictures will support your claim.
Once you’ve taken pictures, exchanged insurance information, left the scene of the accident and obtained a police report, you’ll want to figure out which insurance will apply to the situation. Which insurance is used will depend upon who caused the accident. The insurance company of the person that was at fault will more than likely cover the other driver’s medical bills. For instance, if you did nothing to cause the accident, the other driver will pay for your medical bills up to the limits of the insurance policy.
There are 12 states that have a no-fault law, which means you might have to access your personal injury protection coverage. A car accident lawyer summerville sc can help you understand the different laws related to car accidents, including how to handle the insurance portion of the accident. Given the potential costs associated with filing an insurance claim, working with an attorney might end up saving you money. Getting the proper guidance from an attorney with lots of experience can be more than worth the cost.
If the accident was serious, and you are unable to drive your vehicle, then you’ll need to have it towed. It’s great if you have a roadside service through your insurance company, but if not, you’ll have to pay for the cost of towing directly. Once your car is towed, you’ll be left without transportation. Many people have car insurance that includes rental car service. This means if you’re unable to drive your car because of an accident, the insurance company will cover the cost of a car rental. In most instances you pay for it directly and get reimbursed.
Deciding whether to file a claim is no small task, which is also why it’s good to work with an attorney. However, if an accident is your fault and it appears that the damage is minor, you can offer to pay for the repairs in cash. Just keep in mind that sometimes it looks like the cost of repairs will be minor, and it ends up being far more expensive. What looks like damage that will cost less than $500, can cost you thousands of dollars. If your insurance company has an accident forgiveness policy, then it’s probably best to file a claim.
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