You should call the police, whether the accident was a minor blow to the fender or a significant crash. If the accident wasn't your fault, having an official police report will help you hold the other driver liable for damages and repair costs. Don't try to make repairs with the other driver on your own, even if the other driver doesn't want to involve the insurance company police. If it's unclear which driver caused the accident, you can gather some evidence to help your case, according to FindLaw.
Making a police report will also serve as a lever to determine how the accident occurred or reaching an agreement with the at-fault driver. It's important to gather as much evidence as possible right away. Get contact information for witnesses. Take pictures of the accident scene from more than one angle.
Include images of debris and road signs. Check if there are video cameras in the area. The insurance company will send an adjuster to estimate the damage to your car. They will then issue a check to pay for repairs.
Your insurance company will pay for your damages, minus your deductible. Don't worry if the claim is resolved and it is determined that you were not at fault for the accident, you will recover your deductible. If you want to get your car back on track in a short time, you may have to pay your deductible yourself, says American Family Insurance. Depending on your state's rules, you may also need to notify the department of motor vehicles (or the state agency with a similar name) of the accident and follow any required protocols.
While your car is being repaired or while waiting for payment for a car that is a total loss, you may want to rent a car. We've highlighted some key facts about who pays your deductible after an accident that's not your fault. Car accidents can greatly affect a person's life depending on the severity of the accident and the injuries sustained as a result. Some of these accidents are minor, but many are catastrophic and more than 100 people die daily in car accidents.
In the language of personal injury law (which governs situations in which one person harms another), fault is the key concept that allows an injured person to recover compensation for their harm when another person or company is at fault (or is at fault) for the underlying accident or incident that caused the injury or harm. In at-fault states, the person at fault for the accident (or, more accurately, the insurer of the at-fault driver) will have to pay for the losses of the other driver, passengers, and anyone else harmed by the accident. An auto insurance company will take advantage of any weaknesses in your case and reject any claim that is not properly documented. Turn on the hazard lights in your car and, if you have any warning devices, such as flares or cones, place them around the accident site.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident that wasn't your fault, you may have suffered injuries and other types of losses. Car accidents are the fourth preventable cause of death in this country (after heart disease, cancer, and chronic lower respiratory tract conditions) and, since no one anticipates an accident, they can be traumatic for both the driver and the victim. Injuries from a car accident can range from bruises and scratches to permanent disabilities, paralysis, or even death. Losses (called damages) include things like car repairs, medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
A common example is when one or both of the brake or tail lights were off, especially if the accident occurred at night. .
