Vehicle Accidents

According to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), car accidents occur every minute of the day. Car accidents aren’t always deadly, but they can certainly cause some damage to your car, and to you. After car accidents, people are usually thinking two things: Is everyone okay, and who’s fault was this? There are some ways that fault is determined after an accident by an insurer’s perspective.

Fault-Based vs. No-Fault States

The majority of states carry a fault-based system for auto accidents. This means that in the case of an auto accident, the at-fault driver’s insurer will typically help pay for repairs, medical expenses, and other losses such as pain and lost wages, all through that driver’s liability coverage. This is the system that most of us are familiar with; however, they don’t follow these rules in no-fault states.

In no-fault states, every driver is required to submit a claim through their insurance after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. After an accident, each driver’s insurance company pays for the insured’s medical expenses up to a certain threshold. Under no-fault laws, motorists may sue for severe injuries and for pain and suffering only if the case meets certain conditions.

Fault for Car Insurance Settlements

There is often a lot of “he said, she said” after an accident, because neither parties want to be at fault. This is when police reports come in handy, because they can ultimately break the tie. They also help insurers figure out what exactly happened in the accident, which will help the case. Gathering evidence is very important when dealing with insurance, because they will also help determine who is at fault. This can involve taking pictures and getting information from other drivers and witnesses. Avoid admitting fault at the scene of the accident, because you might not know other pieces of information. When speaking to police, give the facts that you know and, instead of saying “no” when you are unsure, just simply tell them you are unsure.

Car accidents can be very scary, and you might not know the exact cause of the car accident. Make sure to take pictures and try your best to accurately describe the situation to police officers when they arrive at the scene. If you have any questions about the legality behind car accidents, call our office.

Since riding a bike automatically puts you at higher risk of injury in a crash than driving a car, all regular bicyclists should know what to do should you be involved in an accident. First of all, you should always stay at the scene of the accident. Never leave without following all of the other steps or you could be guilty of a hit and run. Next, you should check all parties for injuries. Even if you don’t feel the injury because of adrenaline, you might suffer from lacerations, concussion, whiplash, or even broken bones. Even if you feel OK after the accident, you should see a doctor and keep records of the medical treatment you receive in case you need it later on for a lawsuit. You should then call the police if there has been significant damage caused by the accident. Be careful to never admit your fault to the police at the scene. Next, exchange all contact and insurance information with the other party involved. If you don’t have bicycling insurance, your renters or homeowner insurance might actually cover your damages. Before leaving the scene, be sure to take plenty of pictures to document the accident. Once you’re home, write down any details that you recall from the accident so that your memory doesn’t fade while the insurance claim is being processed. Next, inform your insurance company about the accident and give them all of the information that you’ve gathered. Lastly, if you should need any help whatsoever with getting compensation for your bike accident injuries, be sure to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer for help with your case.

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7 Steps to Take Immediately After a Bike Accident – Injured

If you’ve been injured in an accident that involved another driver who was uninsured at the time of the wreck, you might be wondering how you’ll receive compensation for your injuries. Unfortunately, the Insurance Research Council has reported that one out of seven American drivers is uninsured, so you might run into this problem more often that you’d expect. If you’ve been hit by an uninsured driver, you need to get as much of their personal information as you can at the scene of the accident. Gather their name and contact information as well as their license plate number and driver’s license number. Be sure to take lots of pictures of the accident and its damage to all vehicles, as well. In pretty much any case, it’s a good idea to call the police, especially if there was significant damage done or if the other driver is uncooperative. The policy report of the accident will certainly help with your insurance claim and the uninsured driver is breaking the law by driving without insurance, so the police should be involved anyways. Next, contact your insurance company as soon as you can to see if you have underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage will compensate for your damages even if the other party doesn’t have any insurance. Do all of this in a timely manner, though, because some policies have a time limit on when you can file a claim. Lastly, don’t worry that if the other driver was uninsured that your damages won’t be covered at all. In most cases, your health insurance will help cover any medical treatment needed and the collision and personal injury protection coverage will cover a lot of your car and medical bills. Since this sort of situation can get very sticky and detailed, it would be in your best interest to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you file a claim and ensure that you’re doing the best thing to receive the compensation that you deserve.

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What To Do If You Have Been Hit by an Uninsured Driver – Injured

It’s just about summertime and for some of us this means that vacation time is quickly approaching. If you happen to be traveling to other countries this summer, you might be wondering what would happen if you were involved in a car accident outside of the U.S. Of course, car accidents aren’t pleasant no matter where they occur, but they can be especially bothersome if they happen while you’re traveling. Fortunately, international car accidents are typically handled similarly to those that happen in the U.S., but there are some tips to keep in mind should this unfortunate situation happen to you. No matter where you’re in an accident, you must assess the damage and make sure that everyone’s alright, alert the authorities, and document the accident however you can. Of course, when it comes to insurance, your individual policy determines whether or not you’ll have coverage for an accident in another country. Be sure to check your policy before driving while on vacation. If you happen to be driving a rental car when you’re in the accident, contact the rental company and its insurance carrier immediately. Things can become complicated in international car accidents since you’re dealing with possible language barriers on top of a high-stress situation. In order to ensure that your claim is handled properly, you should contact a personal injury lawyer to help you with your case if you’ve been involved in a car accident outside of your native country.

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Need to Know: Car Accidents in Other Countries – Injured

No one wants to be involved in a car accident. Furthermore, no one wants to deal with the aftermath from a car accident such as making insurance claims or even filing a lawsuit for the accident. If you’ve had the misfortune of being involved in an accident, avoid making crucial mistakes by not falling prey to five of the most popular car accident myths out there. In order to make things less complicated, you might assume that you can keep the situation between you and the other driver. Don’t make the mistake of admitting your own fault by dealing privately with the other driver. If you’ve been in an accident more serious than a fender bender, definitely get legal assistance for your negotiations. Also, don’t assume that the police will determine who is at fault for the accident. In a lawsuit, always supplement the police report with your own recollections, notes, pictures, and other evidence from the accident because the battle over liability could be fought by the lawyers, courts, and the insurance companies. Don’t just assume that your insurance company will handle everything, either. They aren’t guaranteed to cover all of your damages, so be sure to review all offers from your insurance company. Also, be wary of talking to the other driver’s attorneys or insurance company without consulting with your own lawyer. For this reason, don’t think that you can handle it on your own. If there’s a dispute about who’s at fault for the accident, hire an attorney even if you’re settling the claim out of court. Lastly, if you don’t notice any injuries from the accident immediately, but you feel them weeks or months later, don’t assume that it’s too late to file a lawsuit. Check with your state’s statute of limitations to see if you’re within the allotted amount of time to file an injury claim when you start to feel the pain and always seek medical attention immediately following an accident, just in case there might be something wrong that you haven’t yet noticed.

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5 Car Accident Myths – Injured