Every year there are more than 2 million people who visit the hospital as a result of an accident that was not their fault. Unfortunately, it is the sad truth that accidents can happen to anyone, and it is becoming more and more important to know what to do when you find yourself in this situation. There are a few set things to do when you are involved in an accident like calling the police, getting medical help, and contacting your lawyer, hopefully a reliable one like Lamber Goodnow Injury Lawyers Denver. If you are struggling to know what to do after being in an accident that was not your fault, then here is a little advice.
The first steps
When you are involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault like a car accident then it can be hard to remember what to do. This is not your fault. It is a crazy situation, and you are likely not thinking straight. One thing you can do is to keep a checklist in your glove compartment that lists the following important steps.
What to do straight after the accident
You need to make sure that regardless of what the accident was or whose fault you think it was, to make sure that you and everyone involved are okay and safe. In order to do this, you should move yourself and others away from the accident if possible and contact the emergency services. You should also contact the police so that they can have a note of the incident. However, always remember that the most important thing to do is make sure that everyone is okay and that no one is in severe danger.
Start gathering information
When you are involved in an accident that is not your fault, you are going to need evidence to prove this. Gathering evidence is a key part of any investigation and will play a big part in any claim that you want to make in the future. If you or your property has faced some extensive and expensive damages, then you will need to prove how the accident happened and how it was not your fault. This will make sure that you don’t have to pay for it and the person responsible is held accountable.
You should try and get information on anyone involved in the accident or anybody who witnessed it. Getting their name, address, and contact information will make the whole process much easier. You should supplement this with photographs of the accident, damages, and any other contributing factors to the accident. These will only get more difficult to gather the later you leave this.
Visiting the medical services
No matter how big or small you feel like the accident is, you should visit the doctor or the emergency room. You may not be able to know immediately the full extent of your injuries. Many injuries do not reveal themselves fully until weeks after the accident. You should ask for a comprehensive examination just to make sure that you are not injured or carrying injuries that you do not know about.
Understanding the laws and insurance coverage
Depending on what state you were in when the accident occurred, the laws may be slightly different. For example, some states are classed as no-fault states in which your insurer will cover any medical bills and lost income if the case is minor enough. In these cases, every person involved in an accident relies on their own insurer usually up to a cost of $10,000 regardless of who was to blame. However, in other states, it may be down to the other person who is classed as at fault. This can include an employer. This will include property damages, medical bills, and other losses to income. Make sure you know which state laws you are attempting to navigate.
Claiming compensation
There is a lot that can affect a case when it comes to trying to get money for your claim. The only thing you can do is to make sure firstly that you are not at fault and then to prove it. Make sure to gather as much information as you possibly can as soon as you can. Getting photographic evidence and video evidence can really help your case. Make sure to not accept blame or apologize. You need to make sure that your claim is solid when it comes to the court as many lawyers will use anything they can against you.