In the immediate aftermath of an auto accident, there are several crucial dos and don’ts. First, you should immediately take inventory of injury or damage to yourself, any passengers, and your vehicle. If possible, document these injuries with photographs or written records. If the other driver has not called 911, do so and request an officer to come to the scene.Â
Do not interact with the other driver. Do not apologize or accept blame for the accident, this can come back to bite you if the officer subsequently finds you at fault for the accident. When the officer arrives on the scene, give him your version of the incident along with any evidence that you may have. If there are any witnesses, try to get their names and contact information for later testimony.
A number of factors will determine how a car accident impacts your insurance rates. If you were not at fault, or if there was no property damage as a result of the accident, you may not even suffer a rate increase. However, if you were at fault for the accident or the accident caused significant property damage, then your insurance rate will rise significantly.
The nationwide average rate increase for an at-fault accident with property damage is approximately 45%. Depending on the state and the insurance provider this amount can change. More forgiving providers may only increase the rate by 21% while more stringent providers can increase rates by as much as 73%. These increases can severely impact your financial stability.
After an auto accident, there are many issues that need to be resolved. If your car was seriously damaged, you will need to find alternative transportation. If you were injured, you will need medical attention. Lawmakers foresaw these issues and have crafted auto accident injury laws to accommodate for recovery time.
The statute of limitations is a time period that determines how long after a wrong a lawsuit may be filed to seek damages. On average, the statute of limitations is one to two years. However, if you accept a settlement or an insurance payout, you may inadvertently forego your right to file a lawsuit.
There is no one-size answer for how long an auto accident takes to settle. In general, personal injury claims such as car accidents can take up to three years or more to resolve from the time of injury. This timeline can be shorter for settlements since a settlement can come at any time before a case is resolved.
Some factors that influence the amount of time a case takes to settle or resolve include:
If parties are unwilling to accept the outcome of a case and try to appeal the verdict, then the process of resolving the case can be extended by months or even years.
Yes. The police report is one of the most important documents that is used by the courts and insurance companies to determine liability, fault, and damage at the scene. By obtaining a copy of the police report, you are giving yourself the opportunity to examine the official version of events that you will have to push back against if you are unfairly assigned fault for an auto accident.
In order to ensure that you have all available information from the officer on the scene be sure to take down the responding officer’s name, badge number, and police report number. With the incident report number, you can request a copy of the report from the law enforcement division’s traffic department.
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident and are seeking compensation for your injuries, you will need an auto accident attorney. An experienced auto accident attorney can leverage their experience, legal expertise, and expert witnesses to get you the best possible outcome for your case. The best place to find an auto accident attorney is Attorney at Law.
At AAL our nationwide network of attorneys and law firms allows us to match you with the best auto accident attorney in your area. Our attorneys have the experience, legal expertise, and expert testimony to help you explore your options and get you the outcome you deserve. In addition to legal expertise, our attorneys also excel in client care. Our firms ensure that their clients are cared for and questions are answered.
Don’t wait. Contact AAL today for a complimentary consultation and begin your journey to justice.