Understanding Your Rights: Who’s Liable in a Car Crash

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time lapse photo of cars in the street

If you think that car accidents, in general, can be extremely traumatizing, then you are actually pretty right, and this isn’t any type of exaggeration. Even if it’s just some minor fender-bender, and person cannot be indifferent to it.

In these instances, a person is completely confused because their life suddenly becomes packed with uncertainties, and one of the surefire ways to make things less puzzling is by getting familiar with your rights after the car crash.

This isn’t always simple, especially if you do not have the necessary experience and knowledge when it comes to this, however, if you stick with this informative guide, you’ll successfully navigate everything.

Does Insurance Company Need To Be Involved?

In short, yes it must be. As a matter of fact, it plays a major role in car accident lawsuits because one of their duties is to cover your medical bills, damage that’s been done to you, and, at times lost wages.

Of course, in order for everything to be executed the right way, you need to perfectly understand every inch of your insurance policy because out there, you’ll learn everything about your rights to get paid.

If someone else is liable, then you have the option to file a lawsuit against their insurance company as well, so they can cover your damages. Getting your facts straight when it comes to your insurance rights isn’t beneficial only because it’s going to help you determine what to do, but also what not to do.

One of them is refraining from signing anything (that’s related to the settlement) before you consult with a legal expert. In most situations, the insurers will offer to the injured party an amount of money that’s extremely low and far less than you deserve. Therefore, you need to be very careful as far as this goes if you want to be sure you are fairly compensated.

A Solicitor In These Situations Is Highly Advisable!

Frequently, when a person goes through a car accident, they aren’t forced only to deal with the physical consequences of it, but financially too! They need to spend staggering amounts of cash on medical bills, and many other expenses.

The only thing that can “save” these people in these types of situations, is a good car accident lawyer who is going to use all their “weapons” to help them get the compensation they deserve that’s going to cover all these costs.

Now, you are probably wondering whether they are really that effective, and the answer is yes! According to this experienced attorney in Greensburg, PA, first and foremost, they’ll meet with the insurance company to do some negotiation. Since they know that these people have the tendency to take advantage of the people, they’ll do whatever is necessary to ensure you get the right amount of money.

No matter how stubborn an insurer is, they won’t be able to resist the expertise and persistence of an intelligent lawyer. Besides that, since they have lots of experience with cases like yours, they’ll be capable of determining which type of damage you can qualify for.

They’ll simply assess the effect that this accident had on your life and then figure out which losses can be recovered.

You Do Not Need To Make A Statement!

Speaking of insurers, in most situations, they’ll approach people who have been injured almost right after the accident. And this doesn’t only refer to your insurance company, but to the one from the other driver as well.

You may be tempted to tell them all about the collision (how it happened, who caused it, etc.) but that actually isn’t the smartest thing to do. Keep in mind that you are in no way obligated to say anything regardless of how persistent they are.

It’s actually much better to stay silent than to say things that may even jeopardize your case. Just like they say in the movies “anything that you say can be used against you in court”, so have this in the back of your mind.

Now, this doesn’t refer solely to guilt admitting, but anything else that’s related to your car accident case. If the seemingly most benign statement can make a huge mess and negatively affect your compensation.

That’s precisely why it’s more than advisable to have an attorney by your side in these situations. They’ll tell you what you’re allowed to say and what’s strictly forbidden if you do not want to risk anything.

You Should Document Everything In Regard To The Scene Of The Crash

If you aspire to properly protect your rights, and, at the same time, support your claim, then these are the steps that you must take after the accident.

  • Take pictures of the entire scene, including the vehicles that were in a crash, nearby landmarks, and any type of damage that’s visible.
  • If you’ve sustained any injuries (regardless of their severity), then you should take pictures of them, and most importantly, seek medical help as soon as possible.
  • If you’ve talked to the insurers, then you should keep a record of these conversations, and don’t forget to add important details, like time, date, and anything else that’s considered essential.
  • Every piece of paper that could benefit your case (like medical bills) should be correctly organized and kept in one place. Do not underestimate the importance of these documents, because they are the ones that are going to help you build your injury case effectively.

Get Familiar With Different Types Of Compensation

As a victim of a car collision, you are entitled to several sorts of compensation, and they include the following:

  • Medical costs – You should seek compensation for hospital expenses, the medical care that you received, etc.
  • Lost wages – Compensation for the time off due to your injuries, and, simultaneously, inability to work
  • Property damage – Reimbursement for different replacements and repairs that your vehicle had
  • Pain & suffering – It’s quite self-explanatory

foggy road

When you go through a car accident, you have so many things on your plate, and one of them is to effectively navigate your case. Even though this may seem scary at the moment, as you can see, there are things that can help you rebuild your life once again.

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