What to do after a car accident if its not your fault

In the year 2018, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that there were 6.7 million cases of car accidents in the US. From this statistics, accidents are therefore a common occurrence. When an accident happens, one of the most immediate and major things is determining who is at fault. If you are a responsible driver, you will, most likely, not be at-fault.

This article is going to guide you on what to do after a car accident if its not your fault.

What to do after a car accident if its not your fault

There are several things that you should be aware of in the case you are not at-fault in a car accident. To start with, if you are not at-fault, you have the right to initiate litigation to the driver who is at-fault. The path to litigation will help in determining the circumstances of the accident and setting the required amount for compensation.

This provision on taking someone to court and seeking compensation is based on the negative effects of a car accident. As a matter of fact, car accidents have changed one’s life to an extent that one is not the same again. The Integrity Spine & Orthopedics states that no matter how a car accident is, one should not assume that he or she is alright. The human body cannot absorb a lot of pressure, and even minor accidents can have a big effect on one’s life.

Car accidents can result in a permanent disability and paralysis. From here, it becomes a vicious cycle of challenges. For instance, getting involved in a car accident could mean that you will not be able to go to work, and in turn, you will not be able to earn an income. Car accidents are a common source of death, and many families have faced this predicament.

Seeking compensation for a car accident involves seeking compensation because of lost wages, and also seeking medical bills. It is worth noting that car accidents could lead to a high level of emotional distress. Therefore, you could take someone to court for the pain and suffering you have gone through in the aftermath of the accident.

Even in the case that it is clear that you are not at-fault, you should have back-up evidence just in case you are asked about it in court. Taking of photos from the crash sites comes in handy in giving the much-needed evidence in the court process. At this juncture, it is important to keep a record of crash details. These include the location of the crash, the weather conditions, and any other conditions such as the road conditions. If you are able to take a video, the better. This is because a video captures data and information in real time, and carries more comprehensive information.

When you identify that the other driver is at-fault, you should gather the contact information of the driver, as well as his insurance company. This will be important when sourcing the finances for compensation.

When you are involved in a car accident, and you are at fault, check out for any eye witnesses that you may see. Information that witnesses can give include when and how the accident happened, the behavior of the participants immediately after the accident, and any injuries. The US has a culture of cooperating with the authorities, and in many cases, any possible volunteers would not hesitate to volunteer their information to the authorities when they are asked to. However, the information gathered should be reliable, otherwise, the process of seeking compensation will be compromised and unjustified.

Deciding Who is at Fault

Do not simply assume that you are not at fault. This is because such an assumption could have far-reaching implications on you in the future. Rather, be armed with the right information before hand, and you will use this information to decide on the best course of action. Again, be aware that pointing of fingers at the scene of the accident is a normal thing. Each state gives the direction on what it means when on who is at-fault, and the rules are very clear on this. Therefore, there are some situations which are pretty straightforward.

One important thing in determining for a fact if who is at fault is to rely on the police report. When the police reach the site of a crash, the priority becomes to evaluate if anyone needs medical help. The police proceed to check out the events before the accident and after the accident.

Whatever the case, contacting a lawyer is very important in car accident cases. With a lawyer, you are sure that your rights are going to be protected. Factors to consider when looking for a car accident lawyer include area of specialization, the experience of the lawyer, the ability to meet the cost of the legal practitioner, and licensing. The Harvard Business Review states that disputes should be considered both at the level of litigation or an out-of-court settlement.

The advantage with involving a lawyer is that the lawyer will negotiate an optimal amount of compensation for your case. Bear in mind that insurance companies can hesitate to offer compensation even in the case that they know they are supposed to. The intervention of the lawyer comes in handy in ensuring that the driver who is not at-fault gets adequate and timely compensation.

Again, whatever decision you make, be sure to check the specific laws of the state. Whereas many states try their level best to compensate for drivers who are at no-fault, there are different paths to this process and different conclusions.

Conclusion

Despite the effort by authorities to prevent road accidents, car accidents continue to be an anathema in the community. The most prudent thing that you can do is to ensure that you are responsible on the road, and that you do not cause an accident. If you do this, you will be of great help in saving lives and property, and you will not be taken to court for negligence.