What to do After a Car Accident That’s Not Your Fault?

It’s difficult to live a normal life when you’re struggling from injuries due to a car accident that wasn’t your fault. A tough situation like this can place a burden on you and your family for several months. Not only do car accidents lead to expensive property damage, but can be the cause of hefty medical bills. You may be looking at taking time off from work because you’ve been badly injured. It’s only fair that you receive a fair settlement after all you’ve endured.

Working with a car accident attorney will vastly improve your chance of winning a settlement. They will guide you through the car insurance claim process. This could be better than filing a personal injury lawsuit on your own. Your serious injuries deserve to be compensated. Lean on our skilled and well-educated law firm in Fresno, California. Contact Grossman Law Offices today for a free consultation. 

Causes Of Car Accidents

A car accident occurs for many reasons, sometimes due to external forces and other times due to driver error. You may have experienced a car crash for any of the following reasons: 

Distracted Driving

Unfortunately, many drivers believe they can multitask while driving. The leading factor in auto accidents is inattentive driving. A driver who is distracted is not paying full attention to the road and may be more focused on a mobile device, talking to other passengers, and other activities. When you’re behind the wheel, driving responsibly should be a driver’s only focus.  

Speeding

Most drivers still go beyond the speed limit. People frequently exceed the stated speed limit by over 10 miles per hour. When speeding, your reaction time will be slower; the quicker you drive. Chances are very high that an accident can’t be avoided if a driver is going 20 miles over the speed limit.

Intoxicated Driving

Anyone who consumes alcohol and drives endangers both himself and everyone else on the road. When you drink, your senses and cognitive processes get dull. The same occurs when drugs are being abused. Driving while intoxicated slows your reaction speed. Decision-making skills are also hampered.

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive drivers are often spotted speeding and weaving in and out of traffic. They are notorious for cutting off and tailgating other motorists, putting them at risk of a motor vehicle accident. Because they are driving recklessly, they are more likely to cause an accident. 

Bad Weather

Rough weather can make driving conditions dangerous. Water makes roads slippery, which makes it possible for cars to fly off the road suddenly or slam into nearby cars. Heavy snow and ice can also create life-threatening road conditions.  If the at-fault driver had to slam on the brakes in snowy or cold weather, the roadways might be iced over. This can cause their car to slide and crash.

Ignoring Traffic Devices

Another major factor in auto accidents is the failure to stop at stop signs and red lights. Ignoring traffic devices can lead to more serious accidents and catastrophic car accidents. Not yielding, running red lights, and other illegal maneuvers can cause traffic accidents as well.

Road Obstacles

Potholes in the road create risks that are rather dangerous for drivers. When drivers pass over these potholes, they can lose control of their vehicle, or a tire can go flat. Uneven pavement and cracks are also other terrible road obstacles. Sometimes wild animals can pose a threat to drivers.

Fatigued Driving

The lives of many Americans are hectic and demanding. This may result in a driver unintentionally nodding off while operating a vehicle. One study found that in just the previous month, at least 1 in 25 persons reported experiencing sleepiness while operating a vehicle. Some motorists simply aren’t able to receive enough rest before driving. Commercial truck drivers who commute for a living and put in long hours also struggle with fatigue.

Steps To Take After Your Accident

Try to remain calm after you’ve been in a car accident. Also, practice safety measures at the accident scene to prevent an even worse tragedy. You’ll want to do the following to prepare for your car accident insurance claim: 

Call 911

When you dial 911 you’re calling the police. Both the police and paramedics will show up at the scene of the accident. If your injuries are so severe that they are life-threatening, you’ll receive immediate help. The officers will also file a police report detailing what happened at the crash. You can include your input so that you can explain how the other driver is at fault. 

Get Medical Help

Try to see a doctor as soon as possible after an accident. This helps your attorney use your medical bills as proof of your car accident claim. Additionally, you can begin to recover from severe injuries with medical care. Waiting too long to get medical help can worsen your condition and also make it more difficult to seek a settlement.

Take Photographs

Take pictures of the accident site, the damaged vehicles, and any injuries with your cell phone camera. For the claims adjuster’s benefit and in order to support your claim, your images must depict the accident’s total after-effects. Take pictures of the property damage, road conditions, tire skid marks, roadside debris, and the car accident scene. Show the location of the accident scene, such as the intersection. You may want to take pictures of the at-fault driver’s license plate.

Get Contact Information

Make an effort to obtain the contact details of every eyewitness. If there is a disagreement with the at-fault driver’s insurance company regarding what transpired, they might be able to assist you. Obtain the names, contact information, email addresses, and addresses of any eyewitnesses, including those who were in the other involved cars.

Call Your Insurance Company

Call your insurance company. Before contacting the agency, it is advised to review your insurance coverage. Try to become familiar with the specifics of your policy, you might be able to receive coverage for most if not all of your property damage and some of your medical bills. 

Call an Attorney 

If you were hurt in a car accident, the at-fault driver would have to pay you compensation. Your attorney can obtain a fair settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurer using the evidence from your car accident and the official police report. They’ll calculate lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages. Our team is experienced in obtaining compensation for our clients after they’ve experienced a terrible car accident. 

Damages I Can Claim After My Car Accident

When you’ve been harmed because of another driver’s negligence, you deserve to receive a settlement. The other driver’s insurance company can provide you compensation for the following damages:

Medical Bills

All your past, present, and future medical costs are considered part of your damages. Your compensation will include medical expenses you accrued after being hurt. This covers the cost of the ambulance if necessary, medical expenditures, travel to subsequent doctor’s appointments, charges for prescription medicine, and more.  Your lawyer may seek damages for future costs if you need long-term care and other medical operations. Expenses such as physical therapy and home health services can also be covered.

Lost Wages

 Your compensation will include any missing wages from employment due to your accident. This includes any payments made by your company to your retirement or health care plans. Your attorney will calculate your past, present, and future lost income that you missed because of your car accident.

Property Damage

When your own insurance company doesn’t completely cover the cost of your property damage, you can also receive compensation for these losses. Your vehicle’s property damage, as well as any personal goods inside the automobile that was damaged as a result of the accident, are included in your compensation. 

Pain And Suffering

These damages include any physical discomfort you experienced during the accident, throughout the healing process, and any long-term discomfort the incident may have caused. Your accident may have resulted in feelings like depression, grief, anxiety, PTSD, shame, and more. Because you’re experiencing negative emotions due to the at-fault party, you can also be compensated for pain and suffering damages. Your attorney uses a multiplier between the numbers one and seven, which is selected based on how severe your wounds were. This number is multiplied by your economic damages to calculate the total of non-economic damages that you have.

Wrongful Death Damages

Close family members may be entitled to compensation in a case of wrongful death where a family member passed away. The spouse of a family member who died in a fatal auto accident can claim loss of consortium. Other wrongful death damages include the pain and suffering of the wrongful death victim and the family members who also struggled with grief. Loss of earning capacity, lost benefits, and many other damages can be claimed on behalf of the victim. Your lawyer can let you know if these types of compensation apply to you.

How My Attorney Can Help, With My Third Party Insurance Claim

To demonstrate the severity of the injury, a professional attorney is required. Doing this on your own can be difficult and result in errors. The at-fault driver’s insurer will attempt to reduce how much you receive in compensation. To establish these facts in court or in a settlement claim, you must have excellent presentation, organization, and hefty experience. Hire a successful attorney to successfully secure a settlement. The compensation varies according to how much your life has been affected by your accident. How badly your injury influences your livelihood, how much your injuries cost, how your damages affect finances, how long it takes to reach full recovery, and other considerations influence how much you receive from the other insurance company. Your health insurance might not cover all the costs of your bodily injury. Soft tissue injuries, whiplash, back pain, bruising, and broken bones aren’t that expensive, but spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injury are. The repair costs of your car can also be an additional expense after you seek medical care. The other driver’s car insurance provider needs to compensate you for your injuries. Attorneys know how to manage negotiations with insurance companies. You can be fully compensated throughout this difficult process. Let your attorney handle the other driver and their insurance agent using their experience.

Speak To  Car Accident Attorneys Today

With our law firm’s experience in auto accident claims, our attorneys are able to analyze your accident. We unearth all relevant proof and identify everyone who is liable. Our automobile accident attorneys will advocate for you and devote themselves to securing a favorable outcome. We won’t charge you any upfront costs until we have secured a settlement for you. Our law firm, car accident attorneys, specializes in personal injury. We have a proven track record of delivering results. Don’t deal with the other driver’s insurance company on your own, but instead, let us handle the negotiation process. Contact Grossman Law Offices now for a free consultation.