Almost every person who has been in a car accident and survived to tell the tale believes that they can manage the legal aftermath of the accident by themselves. They do not for one minute stop to consider that getting a health checkup, the repairs on the car, and making up for lost days at work might be a little too much for them to handle.
All this needs to be done at the same time as the driver researches and understands the traffic laws that apply to the accident in their particular scenario. No matter what they do, drivers seldom manage to get the full compensation they deserve from the other party.
Money spent on hiring a successful Bridgeport car accident attorney is often recovered in the form of receiving full compensation from the third-party. In this article, we contemplate when you should need to hire an attorney after a car accident. We take into consideration all the different scenarios you can face and there will be some advice so that you do not make a bad situation worse. There will also be some eye-opening information for some drivers about their own insurance company.
What To Do When You Are Responsible For The Accident?
What should a driver, who has just caused a minor accident, where the cars “traded paint” do after the accident? The passengers and driver of both vehicles involved in the mishap will be nervous, edgy, and frustrated. The one thing on everybody’s mind will be who’s fault it was? What should you do or say?
One thing you should NOT do is admit that the accident was completely your fault. Even if you think it was your fault you do NOT need to apologize to anyone. Apologizing, or saying something like “oh, I didn’t see you there!” is an indirect admission of guilt. That is all the other party needs to hear from you to let them off the hook before they leave.
Cooperate with the law enforcement officers and politely exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver. Avoid discussing with the other driver anything related to whose fault the accident was. Insist on letting the law enforcement officers do their job and cooperate with them. There will be plenty of time to determine whose fault it was once all the facts check in.
Carrying Sufficient Insurance Coverage
An insurance company will endorse any statement you make if you have sufficient coverage for the claim. The insurance company has professionals to defend your statement in a court of law if the other party decides to pursue a lawsuit against you. Unfortunately, your monthly premium will increase with this insurance company regardless of whether you win or lose the case. You might not be considered their ideal client anymore either.
An insurance company might begin to incriminate you if you do not have sufficient coverage and you are responsible for an accident. The insurance company wants to protect their interests in a court of law especially when one of their clients does not have the coverage for the incident. The insurance company has no responsibility to ensure a client’s coverage when a client does not have the appropriate amount of coverage. The insurance company will begin to identify themselves separately from such a client in a court of law.
Driving Without Car Insurance
The US driving system penalizes drivers for driving without insurance. A driver without insurance should expect to face an uninsured motorist (UIM) claim from the other driver in addition to the personal injury lawsuit for the car accident. The at-fault driver will be personally responsible to compensate the other driver for their losses (health, car repairs, lost wages, and so on). If you are not able to do so with the assets and resources within your possession, you can expect to have your wages garnished for the other driver.
The other party’s insurance company will also be seeking subrogation action through the uninsured motorist claim to recover the amount paid by them to their client. The at-fault driver will have to pay the other insurance company as well. You will be penalized for driving without insurance in almost all states within the United States, even if you are not at fault and you end up in an accident. Failure to show “proof of financial responsibility” or in other words insurance to a court after an accident will result in driver’s license restrictions and financial penalties on the driver by the court.
Carrying Sufficient Car Insurance In A No-Fault State
There are about a dozen or so states that have no-fault car insurance laws. A car insurance policy-holder in a no-fault insurance system turns their own insurance company for compensation for repairs, medical bills, and other financial damages due to the accident. Living in a no-fault state means that you can face a personal injury lawsuit if the other driver incurred damages over a certain dollar amount or serious physical injuries. The following is a list of the no-fault states
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Kansas
- Michigan
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New York
- North Dakota
- Utah
- Puerto Rico
- Kentucky*
- New Jersey*
- Pennsylvania*
Kentucky, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania residents have the option to choose between no-fault car insurance and traditional car insurance. Residents of these states still have the option to sue the other driver if they have been extremely physically injured or have excessive damage to their vehicle. In both cases, the injuries or damages must reach a certain dollar amount for the driver to be able to sue the other driver. Make sure you know the state limits if you live in a no-fault state.
A driver who is at-fault driving in a no-fault state can still be held responsible for the other driver’s injuries if they have caused serious physical injuries, such as broken bones. A driver will need the assistance of a car accident attorney if they don’t want to pay large amounts in damages to the other driver.
Writer’s Recommendation
Always know the local minimum insurance limits you should have on your insurance. Make sure your insurance is always valid and up to those limits. Living in a no-fault state you might not need a car accident attorney for a minor fender bender. You will need the assistance of a car accident attorney if you have a serious accident in any case.
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Source: Vietnam Insider