October 15, 2024

Are You at Fault for an Accident? Here’s What You Should Do

Motorcyclist

Accidents are unexpected, and majority occur as a result of someone else’s fault. Most people lack the first-hand experience on how to approach accident situations. If you are involved in an accident, and it’s not your fault, you are obviously entitled to compensation. But what happens when you are the one on the wrong side of the law.

If it’s established that you are surely at fault for your car accident, you don’t have to worry so much. However, depending on the details and specifics of your case, you may be forced to compensate the aggrieved party. Calling a car accident lawyer is perhaps the first and the most important thing to do in an accident situation, but it may not be the best solution, especially if you have active insurance. Good insurance will provide you with an attorney to defend you.

The following are some of the things you need to know if you’re legally responsible for a car accident that has resulted in injuries, vehicle damage among crash related losses.

Mindful of What You Say
At the scene of an accident, it’s common for the involved parties to start blaming each other. It isn’t always easy to determine which party is at fault for the crash. There are certain things that you are in fact obligated to do at the accident scene, but one important thing you shouldn’t do and even personal injury attorneys advice against is admitting you were at fault for the crash. In fact, refrain from saying anything that could easily be mistaken for admittance of fault. Not even saying how sorry you are. If you have an inadequate coverage of your vehicle at the time of the accident, be sure to give your car accident lawyer a call.

To avoid self-incriminating, choose your words more carefully but don’t withhold any relevant detail that could help solve the case. Avoid any topic of fault at the scene as there will be enough time for fault determination at a later stage of the case.

No Fault Auto Insurance
In some states such as Florida, Michigan, Kansas, New Jersey, North Dakota, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Utah, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania, they have no-fault car insurance policy. This means that if an accident turns out to be your fault, then you have less to worry about as the insurance cover for your medical expenses, third-party damage, car replacement and repair services.

In some cases, however, you may be faced with liability claims, particularly if your state’s laws have a provision for treating a case outside of the no-fault system. Some state laws suggest that if a person is seriously injured or the medical expenses exceed a certain dollar amount, then the person can file a personal injury lawsuit. It’s therefore important to understand your state’s no-fault laws or consult a car accident lawyer for the details.

Comprehensive Car Insurance Coverage
If you have an adequate car insurance coverage on your vehicle, then all losses resulting from the accident are covered. Your Insurer will do anything possible to defend any claim made against you. They’ll even hire a personal injury lawyer to handle personal injury lawsuit filed in court. The only issues you have to deal with will be high insurance premium rates if you are certainly to be blamed for the accident. And if your vehicle had minimum coverage at the time of the accident, you may be personally liable for the cost difference on your cover.

If it’s determined that you were at fault during the accident, the best solution you have is to hire a car accident lawyer or a personal injury attorney. This lawyer can help you avoid going to trial and find the best way to handle the claims made against you. Estimates show that only 4% to 5% of personal injury cases advance to trials. The rest are out-of-court settlements.

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