Every year, more than 6 million car accidents occur in the US on average. Car crash injuries are one of the leading causes of fatality in the country, resulting in over 38,000 deaths.

If you meet a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you can take certain steps to avoid financial liability. We’ve explained what to do when you’re not at fault for a car accident. Continue reading this guide.

Not At Fault For a Car Accident? Take These Steps

A car accident is a stressful experience. It takes a toll on your finances and health. Sometimes, you might forget what to do if you’re not at fault. Luckily, this checklist will help you take important steps:

Immediately After the Accident

First, ensure your and passengers’ safety if there are any. You can take the following steps to accomplish this:

• Move to the side of the road
• Call 911 if there’s been an injury
• Call the police to inform them about the accident

You should ensure that there are no more injuries to minimize the damage.

Collect Information

Even if it’s not your fault, you should gather all the evidence regarding the car crash. Road accidents can have expensive and significant expenses. So you need to have proof of what happened and who was responsible.

You can gather the information on the scene, which may include:

• Name, contact number, address, license plate, and driver’s license from the at-fault driver.
• Contact details and names of passengers as well as witnesses.
• Take pictures of the vehicle damage and document the scene of the accident.
• Get contact details of the law enforcement officers who have responded to your call.
• Request a copy of the accident document from the police if it’s available and applicable.

Gathering all the information immediately after the accident is important because you may not obtain all the evidence later.

Visit the Doctor

Motor vehicle crashes can lead to injuries. Get a full physical examination from the doctor. It’ll reveal any issues so you can get immediate treatment. Document all the injuries so you can later make a claim.

Insurance Coverage

The rules for no-fault accidents vary from state to state. In some states, your insurance carrier will cover lost wages and medical bills if the crash is minor. So you’ll rely on your insurance company for the compensation.

That said, the at-fault party will be held responsible for the damages. So the driver has to pay for the property damages, emotional distress, and medical bills.

Sue the At-Fault Party

If the insurance carrier doesn’t negotiate and come to a reasonable settlement, you can file a lawsuit against the driver in court. At this point, the jury will decide and give judgment on the case. So you might want to gather all the evidence and hire a car accident lawyer.

Bourassa Law Group helps injured people and not-at-fault drivers after a car accident. You can hire our personal injury attorneys to represent you in court or negotiate a settlement with the at-fault party. Get a free case evaluation today!

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