What To Do If You Are In A Car Accident That Isn’t Your Fault

Being in a car accident that isn’t your fault can leave you feeling shaken up and confused about what to do. In the worst cases, it may leave you needing medical attention. In any case, there are a few steps you need to make sure you to in order to get the right help and care you need.

Report the car accident immediately 

Whether you are involved in an Uber accident or in a car with a friend, you will need to act fast to put a claim in. Uber accidents, in particular, and their claims can be complex and you need to report them immediately to get the help, care, and cover you are entitled to. Whether or not they have the appropriate insurance, you will be entitled to compensation and medical help. So, getting the claim and incident reported straight away will be better for evidence reasons, as well as getting help for yourself.

Remain calm

If you are physically okay and do not need medical attention, the best thing you can do is stay calm. You will not want to panic yourself and it can make the entire situation a whole lot worse for yourself and whoever else is involved. Having a calm mind will ensure you take all necessary steps, such as making a report straight away.

Medical attention is a priority

If you, or someone else, is hurt during the accident, getting medical attention should be your first port of call. With adrenaline running high, you may not feel the full effects of your injuries immediately after your car accident. Many people have walked away from car accidents feeling that they suffered no serious injury, only to discover later that they suffered more serious injuries than initially thought. Make sure that you seek medical care as soon as possible after your accident.

The trip to the hospital will help you receive the right treatment. Treatment sooner rather than later will reduce the risk of further injury or death. It will also show the doctor clear evidence of what the accident caused. If you do not seek medical care immediately after the accident, the liable party’s insurance company or legal representatives may try to claim that your injuries occurred at another time, which could mean that you do not receive the compensation you deserve for those injuries. Immediate medical care, on the other hand, will help provide a chain of evidence that can help show exactly when your injuries occurred.

Follow doctors instructions

If you do suffer an injury and receive clear instructions from your doctor, it is very important to ensure that you follow them. Your doctor may provide you with specific instructions about how to handle your injuries and your recovery. With broken bones, for example, you might need to avoid bearing weight on the injured limb, or your doctor might require you to avoid lifting objects with a broken arm. 

Listen carefully to your doctor’s instructions and follow them. If you feel that you cannot remember those instructions, especially if you suffered an injury that could prevent you from fully understanding the doctor’s requirements, write them down or have someone else present who can help you remember them. Failure to follow your doctor’s requirements could complicate your recovery. If you ignore your doctor’s instructions, you might not receive the full compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Reach out to insurance companies

Making a claim will involve insurance companies. You need to let them know what happened for the sake of the car and your own personal cover. Your auto insurance provider may provide you with immediate funds for the repairs to your vehicle, which can help you get back to driving sooner.

Get in touch with your health insurance

As well as car insurance companies, you will also need to reach out to your health insurance companies. If you do not have health insurance, this will make you decide to get it. Without health insurance, you may not receive the compensation you are entitled to after an accident. 

After an accident, your health insurance company will want to know who bears liability for any injuries that you suffered. If you suffered serious injuries, your health insurance may pay for a percentage of your medical bills, based on your coverage and the terms of your policy.

However, your health insurance company may not fully cover injuries for which another party bears liability. If you do not contact your health insurance company, your health insurance provider may contact you soon after the accident, when the first claim goes through.

Get a copy of the car accident police report

To make a claim thorough, you will want to keep a copy of the police report for your own good. After your accident, take a look at the police report and make sure that it accurately reflects what led to or contributed to your accident. In some cases, the police report may contain misinformation—it may, for example, suggest that you caused or contributed to the accident when you didn’t. You may need to correct this to move forward with a car accident claim after the accident. Your car accident lawyer can collect the police report and other evidence to prove your claim.

If you are seriously hurt, tell your work

Depending on the extent of your injuries, you may need to let your employer know that you will not come to work that day or until a physician clears you to work again. The sooner you notify your employer about your accident, the sooner you can show your willingness to communicate with them throughout your recovery and to work with your employer to streamline your return to the job. Some employers will give you the time you need to recover from your car accident injuries or may make accommodations to get you back to work sooner.