Typically, car accident are known for being traumatic events. Aside from damage to vehicles, they can also result in injuries that can be life-threatening. Hence, if you’ve been in a collision, you may feel in shock and uncertain as to how to proceed next. All you’re probably sure about is that the incident wasn’t your fault at all.
Unfortunately, claiming non-liability for the accident is never easy. Sometimes, the other driver involved will also look for ways to shift the blame on you and hold you liable for what happened.
So, if you believe the car accident wasn’t your fault, below are the five things you should do from the get-go:
- Call The Authorities
Whether the accident is minor or major, you should always call the police authorities for assistance. They’ll be there to document what happened and collect relevant information and other pieces of evidence. Once they have enough information, they’ll decide who is at fault in the police report.
Thus, if you know the accident wasn’t due to your negligence, having an official police report can help you prove your innocence and make the other driver liable for injuries, damages, and other related expenses.
- Try To Be Observant As Much As Possible
During the aftermath of the collision, it’s a good idea if you take notice of everything that’s going on around you. These can include the behaviors and verbal statements of the other driver involved. For example, you should be vigilant about any admittance of guilt or apologies uttered.
That’s because when they start taking legal advice from a lawyer, they may decide to transfer the blame on you, making it seem that you were at fault. That said, you should try to be as observant as possible to protect your rights and interests against the other party.
However, if you want to be one step ahead of the other party, you may also consider speaking to an experienced lawyer to know your legal options and find ways to safeguard yourself against their claims. Most lawyers are skilled in determining negligence and faults in a car accident. You may continue reading this to get more information.
- Collect Several Pieces Of Information
Another thing you should do when a car accident wasn’t your fault is to gather many pieces of information at the accident scene. All the information you’re going to obtain can help you prove the liability of the other driver as well as speed up the insurance claims process. Don’t leave the accident scene without getting the following information:
- Other driver’s name and contact number.
- Names and contact information of passengers in the other party’s car, if necessary.
- Other driver’s insurance company and policy information.
- Car information of the other driver, including the color, make, and model.
- Name and contact information of the witnesses to the accident.
As you can see, there’s plenty of information that needs to be gathered in an accident that wasn’t your fault. But to make sure you’re doing this right, only discuss the above-mentioned information with the other driver involved in the collision. Refrain from talking about who’s liable for what happened as anything you say may be used against you. It’s best to leave that matter to the police, your lawyer, and the insurance companies.
- Take Photos Of The Accident Scene
If you can, don’t forget to take some photographs of the accident scene. This means you should photograph any damage to the vehicles, markings on the road, or anything that can help establish your innocence as to what happened. Also, be sure to obtain a variety of angles and close-ups to allow a thorough examination of the collision.
Remember, the photos you capture may be an excellent way of showing that the negligence of the other driver caused the car accident. Also, these pieces of evidence can make a big difference when you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit claim.
- Make A Claim
In case the accident was caused by the other driver, then you may be entitled to damages or compensation. This is true, especially if you sustained an injury that disrupts your usual day-to-day activities. Also, because of your injury, you may be forced to take some time off, leading to lost wages or loss of earning capacity.
For this reason, it’s only fair to file a compensation claim against the at-fault party so they’ll be held accountable for all the damages you sustained, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and many more.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with a car accident that wasn’t your fault doesn’t have to be complicated if you know what to do from start to finish. As long as you can keep those five things in mind, you can fully safeguard your rights and interests while making the at-fault party accountable for what they did.
Lastly, talking to a lawyer about your situation may also benefit you. A personal injury lawyer can help assess the compensation you deserve, and they can determine what the next step should be for you to make a proper claim against other parties involved.
