Minor Car Accident?
You must follow these four steps:
- Always
give the driver's information, even in the event of an minor car accident that is
not serious!
- Make sure
you take pictures of ALL vehicles involved in the collision.
- Check
yourself for any injuries immediately.
- If you're
hurt contact an attorney
for car accidents.
You're in the
light at red after an exhausting day. You are reaching down to change the
station on your radio when...BAM! You've been hit by a driver who was not
paying to pay attention. You and your passenger get out of the car to
evaluate the damage. You're both feeling great and your vehicles are in
small damage. It's been an extremely long day, so you decide to not call
the police to report the incident or share any details between the two of you. Do
you really have to engage an attorney following an incident that was minor?
Do you really
have to make a controversy about it? Perhaps we should simply forget about
it and continue with our lives. Since you're aiming to go home, and your
last wish want is to sit at an unpaved road to annoy the other drivers and then
be left in a state of emotional and frustration... and then go home.
It was the first time you made a mistake and also the costliest mistake you could have made.
In the majority
of states, failure to make a police statement following an auto accident even
if it's an accident that's fender-bender related and is considered to be a
violation of law. It's a felony once you enter your vehicle and leave. It
doesn't matter whether you aren't sure you're injured or if the vehicle didn't
suffer damages. A crash is still an accident regardless of whether it's a minor
car crash.
Additionally,
when you've left the scene of an auto accident, it is difficult to determine
the truth. Even a minor car accident becomes murky. Therefore, if
you'd like to engage an attorney following an accident that isn't too serious
take a moment to think about it right now. It is advisable to call the
police prior to leaving the accident site.
Apart from the
legality of the matter it could have destroyed any claim you might be able to
make against another driver. Even if there's nothing wrong with your vehicle. This
is the issue:
Hidden Injuries
Research has
shown how there can be many injuries that a person could be able to
sustain in minor car accidents which don't manifest until days following the
accident. When you're struck by a car from behind, you're barely being
jolted, and you're feeling fine. There's nothing obvious about your injury,
but you'd be able to tell if you're hurt (wouldn't you?
It's not always
that way. Many people consider "injuries" as broken bones as
well as lacerations and head injuries. We think of severe life-threatening
conditions. We aren't usually thinking about the possibility of swollen
ligaments, stained tendons or contusions. But we ought to.
If your body
moved forward, and your neck snapped back or were able to move forward in a
sudden manner, you might awake with back pain that is severe over the next few
days or even the next. The rush of adrenaline after the accident may cover
up injuries. Many Fort Lauder-dale personal injury attorneys will
advise you to visit a physician immediately to make sure that you're free of
hidden injury.
If you are able
to drive away from the scene, and do not submit a claim to either an insurance
company or the police (or both) or both, you'll have an issue taking your
personal accident to court even if an expert medical professional to your side.
The "Other" Guy
What if you
swapped information with another driver? exchanged hands, and then went about
your day without notifying the minor accident with the authorities?
After a few
weeks after that, you're called to court as you are summoned to court because
the "other" guy has filed their own lawsuit against you. You are aware that they're in the
wrong and you are aware that the injuries they're asserting and the damage to
property they claim you caused is exaggerated or even incorrect. Did you
remember when you decided to drive off without a formal report? You're now
in an "you say, they say" kind of situation.
Most of these
kinds of suits aren't going to last very long. The other party was gone,
too. Do you really want to endure the stress and time it'll take to comply
with the summons, and possibly be present at hearings, and even argue on your
behalf , when you're sure you're on the correct side? You probably are
more productive with your time!
Another
excellent tip for you "Do not admit fault or reveal policy limits". This
is a direct quote taken from Geico insurance site. Be cautious about
the things you say and do!
What to Do After A Minor Car Accident
Perhaps you and
the other participants didn't get away from the car crash that was minor. Maybe
there was a little damage to either (or both) of your cars that caused you to
doubt your own judgement, and you decide to submit a police complaint. You submit
the report to your insurance company and you are found to be the one
responsible. Their insurance company offers an amount of money and you
accept it. This is a straightforward decision to make and allows you to
fix your car quicker.
But wait a second. The
settlement didn't provide enough money to repair your car and you're thinking
you've suffered an injury. Perhaps whiplash!
Insurance
companies are company and is looking out for their own bottom line, not
your best interests. If you agree to an offer of settlement from
insurance, your document will most likely state that you're giving the right to
take any legal action in the future. It's not uncommon for people to
believe an insurance company provides fairness, but it's not uncommon for this
to be far from the truth.
Even in minor
accidents, it is recommended to consult a personal injury lawyer examine your
case prior to signing any settlement! They will help you receive the
maximum amount of compensation for your situation. This way, you won't
need to pay out of pocket to pay for your car or medical expenses.
However, don't
leave immediately, but keep the following 10 things you should be careful
of following an auto accident:
- leaving the scene of an Accident and Not reporting it to the police: Just as we mentioned in the previous notes leaving the scene of minor car accidents without reporting it to police is a serious error. The police report is used in a minor auto accident lawsuit in order to help the judge decide whether to award the plaintiff the right amount of damages.
- Inability
to Collect Evidence at the Scene: Take as many photographs as possible, gather all
the phone numbers you have and then ask for as many accounts as you
possibly can from those around and let your attorney for car accidents
determine what is important and what's not. Make sure to gather the
most evidence you can while you are still on the scene of the crash.
- Accepting Responsibility: Never admit fault, even if you
think you were at fault in the car accident that was minor. It is the
fact that it is impossible to determine who was at fault from your
perspective and you're merely trying to comprehend what might have
transpired to create your view. Never admit fault. In lieu,
allow your lawyer and the police determine who is at fault and how much
comparative blame is involved.
- Not seeing
a doctor: You
should see a medical professional when you begin to believe you've
suffered injuries in the accident. If you don't have any injuries
resulting from the car accident that was minor it could be difficult to
assign them to the incident and not to different wear and tear. In
addition, it could be more difficult to get compensation.
- Don't Take
Advantage of Personal Injury Protection: Remember this: Florida requires you to have the
Personal Injury Protection and it is designed to ensure that you are
covered from an automobile collision. There is no obligation to not
claim the insurance coverage in the event that you've been involved in a
minor accident.
- Inability
to understand the nature of Insurance Companies: Remember that insurance
businesses are primarily an enterprise and have a purpose to generate
profit, and this means they need to hold and collect as much cash as they
can while making payments as minimal as is possible (in theoretical
terms). When you file claims, they'll attempt to settle the claim for
less money if they are able to.
- Do not
review the Police Report: You must go through the report to ensure that the
details contained on the report are accurate and that you accept the
report. If you don't try to voice your opinion immediately and ensure that
any modifications made as quickly as you can and prior to signing.
- The First
Settlement Check: Just like most negotiations beginning with the
first check, the initial deal will always be most affordable the insurance
company believes they are able to make to satisfy you and also ensure that
they're not overpaying and also saving as much on the settlement for your
car accident as they can.
- Doing Your
Best to Resolve Your Case: Though you may think that a minor accident isn't
enough to warrant hiring an attorney for car accidents however, we are
able to say that clients who employ an experienced attorney receive a
settlement amount that's on average three times larger when
compared to those who don't employ an attorney for auto accidents.
- Do not
hire an Attorney for Car Accidents: For all the reasons mentioned above and further, we
think that it's your best interest to get a car accident lawyer as soon as
you can.
Attorneys Are Free
You're
asking... is that what? It's true that every attorney is going to cost you
an amount, however almost all personal injury lawyer operates on the
basis of a contingency. This means they get their fee from the
settlement they get for you. In other words, if they fail to achieve a
settlement on your behalf and you aren't entitled to any money!
Additionally, most
will talk to you free of charge in a case assessment. It is possible
to schedule an appointment, talk to an expert Fort Lauder-dale car accident
lawyer discuss with the lawyer about settlement proposals you've received
and inquire questions about your rights under the current law of the state.
It means that
money shouldn't be the deciding factor when you're thinking of engaging an
attorney. This also means that you must talk to an attorney in the event
of a car accident after your accident. You're not at risk and many things
to gain.
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