What Happens After a Car Accident That Is Not Your Fault?
According to a report issued by the Canadian transportation safety board, more than 300,000 car accidents occur every year in Canada. Although nobody wants to face this unfortunate incident, people often have to deal with such accidents because of someone elseâs reckless driving.
Since it can happen to everyone, you should know what happens after a car accident that is not your fault. And if you choose to drive every day to reach your workplace, keep in mind that only the following instructions can help you manage the situation.
Immediate Measures to Take After a No-Fault Accident:
The first thing you should be careful of while driving is to follow the traffic rules and regulations from your side to avoid any accidents or collisions. If itâs not your fault, your car accident lawyer can claim for the damages afterward.
However, immediately after an accident, you should leave your belongings and car behind and stand on the safer side of the road. After that, check your and your passengerâs injuries. And call the police or traffic control personnel.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident:
Even though you have informed the police, it may take some time to arrive at the scene. In the meantime, you should follow the below instructions:
Take the Information:
You should not move from a safe distance if you are seriously injured. But if you have minor injuries, you should jot down some names and contacts you will need to report and verify the incident in court. They are:
- the driver at fault,
- passengers of the other vehicle,
- police officerâs name, badge number,
- witnesses who were present at the incident.
Take Some Pictures
Make sure you make the best use of your smartphone after an accident. Try taking some snaps to have evidence, including the carâs model, company, and colour. And also donât forget to take pictures of the damages your car had to face.
Take Information About the Car Insurance Company:
You need to talk to the car driver at fault about the car insurance policy they have that you will need to contact after your damage is repaired. Note down the car insurance company and their policy information and inform your lawyer and your own insurance company.
Do a Sketch/ Keep a Recording:
Even if you are not good at drawing, try to draw a map of how the incident occurred. Add the directions, map nearby buildings, etc. When it is not possible, try to record everything you remember on the phone.
Look for a CCTV Camera:
Having a car dash camera is the best idea to record everything happening while you are behind the wheels. In such accidents, the footages come handy to prove your innocence. But if you havenât installed one, you should look for any nearby CCTV camera to have the footage of the incident.Â
What Not to Do After an Accident?
You should know that anything you say after an accident can be used against you at the court by the defenders. This is why you should never say sorry out of reflex after such an accident when you are willing to prove your innocence.
Whose Company to Call?
There are two ways to manage your finances after such an injury. Either you can call your own insurance company through your lawyer or directly inform the opposite party’s insurance company. The latter one is known as a Third-Party Claim.
However, the compensation you will receive from the third-party claim may require more time because they will try that their client is not at fault first. But since you will need the money as early as possible to cover your recovery bills, it is a better idea to call your insurance company at first.
No matter the way you receive the compensation, that better covers the cost for the following damages.
- The medical expense for your injury,
- Money is needed to repair the car damage.
By any chance, you can sue the at-fault party directly when your insurance doesnât cover the whole thing.
How Much Is Your Car Accident Settlement Worth In Canada?
When you are on the no-fault side, there are three levels of benefits that you can get, according to the damages you have suffered from. They are:
For Minor Injury Guidelines: the maximum value is $3500
For Non-Catastrophic injuries: the maximum value is $65000
For Catastrophic Impairment: the maximum value is $1,000,000
Conclusion:
The settlement can cause stress, and it can get complicated if the other party does not cooperate. In this situation, the best thing to do is to take medical attention at first and consult with your lawyer about the settlement money.
A personal injury lawyer can be the best support after a car accident, apart from the doctors helping you recover. Be worry-free about dealing with the default driver or the insurance company. Contact an experienced lawyer who will fight for the compensation you deserve and get you justice. Donât lose hope and have patience if you believe that you havenât broken any law at the incident.
