Drivers who practice safety precautions on the road most often avoid being involved in a car accident. However, car blunders can happen unexpectedly under certain circumstances despite implementing these precautions.
People would find themselves under stress when involved in an auto accident. Some drivers often let their emotions overpower their rational thinking and forget that safety is the priority in all car-related incidents. Accordingly, if you ever find yourself in a car blunder situation, you must check if you or your passengers incurred injuries. You should also move to a safe area, away from your car, if the collision damages the engine and causes fuel to leak, resulting in a fire or explosion.
Most car accidents are minor “fender benders” that do not often cause injuries to the drivers or passengers; however, it can be detrimental to the vehicles involved. When circumstances like these happen, it can have serious consequences when it comes to liability, insurance, and the claim process. Therefore, car drivers and owners should know what to do and which information to gather when involved in a car blunder, even when it is a minor incident.
It is vital to collect information from the other driver involved in the collision incident. Hence, it would be best if you took note of their full name, contact information, insurance company and policy number, driver’s license, license plate number, and vehicle description, such as type, color, and model. Consequently, it would help if you documented the accident by taking note of the accident location, names and addresses of all parties involved, and police officers’ names who responded to the incident.
It would be best to take pictures of both vehicles from different angles to show the accident’s damage. It can support you during the claims process with your insurer. Additionally, reporting the accident to the police can help you secure your bases and gather supporting documents for your insurance claim. It is best to remember that some insurance providers require policyholders to present a copy of the police report as they process their insurance claim.
Although most minor accidents do not need a lawyer when making claims, there are scenarios where you might need one. One example is when you find yourself suffering from injuries after the crash. It is suggested that you file a personal injury claim to cover the expenses of treating the injuries. Hiring a personal injury lawyer Newport Beach, CA, can help you with the legal process of filing a claim.
A personal injury attorney in Newport Beach can also give you legal counsel if you want to take your insurance company to a claims court in the scenario that you hold uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance. They can understand the legal process of making claims; hence, they can take your case to trial and help you get the compensation you deserve.
A car accident attorney knows how much your claim is worth; therefore, hiring one can negotiate with your insurance provider on your behalf. This infographic of Avrek Law discusses what to do when you are injured in a minor car accident.
