What to Do When an Accident Is Not Your Fault?
It can be a long-term hassle to negotiate with your car insurance company after a collision. Consider now how the insurance company can deal with a person you don't know who got crashed into your vehicle.
Here are a few tips to ensure that you keep your insurance and your health safe when you claim with another provider, known as a third-party claim, apart from hiring an auto accident lawyer in Oklahoma.
Collect Necessary Information
The driver who crashes in your car report the accident to the insurance company of your vehicle. Just make sure you do contact your insurer. Motorists causing accidents are often unable to disclose them.
It is important to get full information about the other party on the scene of the accident. Gather the following:
Name and address of other passengers.
Name and policy details of another driver's insurance agency.
Claims and witness contact information.
Take accident scene pictures – most smartphone cameras are suitable.
In this way, you will have facts on the scene to reinforce your position on the cause of the accident. Check if your car insurance company has a phone app to help you report the accident on stage. Some of the best car insurance companies have an accident insurance questionnaire that advise you how best to collect information, so that you can claim with them or the insurer of the other party.
Contact the Right People
You should then inform the other insurer that you were involved in a crash with one of their policyholders. Relay only the crash truth, even if you believe the other driver is inaccurate.
The police must decide who is responsible for the intent of ticketing. Independently, the insurer shall make its own fault determination, which may or may not match the fault assessment of the law enforcement. The insurer shall take things like the police report, the driver's and witness statements and physical evidence into account.
Call the Police
You should then inform the other insurer that one of your policyholders is involved in a crash. Relax only the reality of the accident, even if you think the other driver is wrong.
The police have to determine who is responsible for ticketing purposes. The insurer shall independently assess its own liability that may or may not be in accordance with the fault assessment of the enforcement agency. The insurer must take into consideration issues such as the police report, driver and witness statements and physical evidence.
What to Do after Reaching Home
If you haven't suffered any severe injuries, you'll want to take care of some more measures after you get back home. If you have injury wounds, please keep detailed (and ongoing) records. In the best-case scenario, the other driver informs his insurer of the accident. The insurance firm will send you a check for the damage to your car and any medical costs.
Inform Insurance Company
Car accidents frequently occur at a glance of the eye, which means you may not have a complete picture of the circumstances that led to the crash. And yes, perhaps, if only partially, you were at fault. There may also be cases in which the insurance company of the other engineer refuses liability. In either case, your own insurance company must be aware, either to bring the other insurer into law or to process your vehicle's collision claim. And you make a good faith effort to report the accident by proactively contacting your insurance company, irrespective of your fault.
You May Sue the Other Driver
In most cases, the insurance company of the other party will take care of the losses you have caused. But it can also take the side of the policyholder and refuse reporting, especially in the absence of a police report. In this scenario, the loss may be compensated by your own insurance, sue the other party, or try to find a settlement for all the parties. But as a last resort, you can always hire a lawyer to sue yourself for the other party's insurer.
Nonetheless, there may not be sufficient proof to make a solid case or legal fees may not be worth the amount of money involved. In any event, make sure you weigh carefully the advantages and disadvantages before taking further legal action.
Hire an Attorney
You may now have additional questions about your legal options as you know what to do after a car accident that is not your fault. A lawyer can help you decide what to do if this is not easily resolved. Start today and contact an experienced auto accident lawyer Oklahoma in your vicinity.
** Disclaimer: The above article does not imply a relationship between attorney and client, nor is it legal advice.