A personal injury lawyer will be a valuable asset to your case, even following a minor fender bender. In a fender bender, you might only deal with your insurance company. However, insurance companies are often known for minimizing injuries and offering a settlement amount that will not even come close to covering the full extent of your damages.
Not all car accidents require hiring an attorney and filing a lawsuit. Some fender benders aren’t serious and can be resolved outside of the legal system. But there are still steps you are legally required to take after any wreck to avoid liability and ensure all parties involved are compensated fairly.
If you’re involved in a fender bender or a more serious accident, you should attempt to notify both the police and your insurance company.
Every year, about 6 million car crashes occur throughout the US. Many of these cases include minor fender benders. Not everyone thinks to file a personal injury claim after a minor accident, though. You could lose your chance to receive compensation for property damage, injuries, and other losses as a result.
Ideally, you do want to report any sort of car accident in South Carolina. Keep reading to find out why. If the fender bender damage is minor, no one in any vehicle involved is injured, and each driver involved in the accident has insurance, you don’t need to call the police.
Fender bender accidents are serious and deserve real legal consideration. Minor accidents on the road are usually treated with less importance than major accidents. It is common for parties involved in a minor accident to prefer to settle minor claims on their own.
Helpful Tips If You're In a Fender BenderStop. First and foremost, stop the car. ... Call the police. Once you've pulled over to the side of the road, call 911 and report the accident. ... Take pictures. ... Exchange information. ... Don't say too much. ... Call your insurance provider.
A fender bender is considered a minor accident between two vehicles. What constitutes as 'minor,' can be debated, but typically incidents like getting rear-ended at low speeds, bumped by a distracted driver, or perhaps lightly tapping into a car while parking could be classified as a fender bender.
Call Police. They will give you directions on whether you should stay on scene, or whether you should come to the police station.
Even seemingly minor fender benders are notorious for being far pricier to fix than most drivers would expect. To illustrate just how costly fender benders can be, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) staged seven low-speed collisions between several new vehicles.
Check if anyone is hurt. ... Make sure to take pictures of the accident. ... Move your vehicle off to the side of the road if possible. ... Let the investigator take command of the situation, and institute measures to prevent the accident from getting worse. ... Exchange information with the other driver.More items...
Insurance Disclosure The short answer is yes — it is always a good idea to let your insurance company know when you have been involved in a collision. However, you might choose to pay for the repairs out of pocket, depending on the circumstances.
The sooner they file a claim, the better. However, failure to report the accident can result in a misdemeanor or felony charge. Fleeing the scene of the incident could also get the police involved. Even minor injuries are serious issues, let alone vehicle damage and death.
Why should you always collect the other driver's information in a fender-bender? You never know if the other driver might report you for hitting and running. If you don't exchange information, how can the other driver find you to make a big legal deal later? You need to report fender-benders.
Yes, you should call your insurance company if you were in a car accident that was not your fault. There are two main reasons for this. First, your insurance company may require you to contact them as outlined in your policy.
Even if you know the accident was your fault, don't say sorry or admit guilt at the scene as your insurer might have a clause about it. Exchange details with the other's involved and get in touch with your insurer to report the incident.
Generally, a no-fault accident won't cause your car insurance rates to rise. This is because the at-fault party's insurance provider will be responsible for your medical expenses and vehicle repairs. If your insurer doesn't need to fork out money, your premiums won't go up.
Be Prepared for a Fender Bender. It is best to be prepared in case you are involved in an accident. Some easy ways to be prepared in case you are involved in a minor accident include: Have an emergency contact set up in your phone. Keep your driver’s license, auto insurance and health insurance easily accessible.
Single-vehicle fender benders involve just one car. For example, maybe you strike a tree, back into your mailbox, or veer off the road and damage your bumper. Negligent driving is one of the main causes for single-vehicle accidents, and many of them can be prevented.
How Can a Minor Car Accident Affect You? In a minor car accident, little damage to your car can still mean a lot of damage to your health and your wallet. Knowing how a fender bender can affect you, your auto insurance, and your health will help you prepare to handle the situation in the best way possible.
It is best to be prepared in case you are involved in an accident. Some easy ways to be prepared in case you are involved in a minor accident include: 1 Have an emergency contact set up in your phone 2 Keep your driver’s license, auto insurance and health insurance easily accessible 3 Keep emergency items in your car in case of an accident 4 Always have a plan of action in place
If the other driver says they are making a claim, or their auto insurance company contacts you, be polite and stay calm. Tell them to contact your insurance company or attorney. Do not give them a statement about the accident, do not admit fault, and do not sign anything.
If there are signs, immediately contact emergency medical attention. If it’s safe to do so, move your car out of the hazard zone and onto the shoulder of the road. This will help prevent traffic blockages or further collisions. Exchange contact information with all other drivers involved in the accident.
Minor car accidents are common, and sometimes there’s nothing you can do to avoid a fender bender. Whether it’s your fault or not, traffic accidents are a stressful experience. There’s usually some confusion about exactly what happened, and even more about what to do next. Being prepared and knowing what to do after a minor accident will help ...
Immediately after your fender bender accident, it’s normal to feel a little disoriented. Take a deep breath and try to recall these steps. Otherwise, you might make a decision that impacts your claim.
While you wait for the police to arrive, take a moment to exchange information with the other driver. Make sure to get their personal information before leaving the site of the crash. For example, you can ask for their:
Once the police arrive, you can let them know what happened before and after the fender bender accident. Stick to the facts. Don’t embellish when accounting for your side of the story.
Don’t rush to leave the scene of your fender bender accident. Instead, take a moment to gather evidence. The evidence you gather can benefit your insurance and personal injury claims.
While you’re at the scene of the crash, look around for witnesses. Did anyone see what happened? Ask if they’re comfortable giving you their contact information.
With minor car accidents, injuries aren’t usually too serious. It’s still important to visit a doctor. Only a medical professional can fully assess your injuries.
If you were in a fender bender, don’t hesitate to contact a personal injury lawyer right away.
If you’re involved in a fender bender or a more serious accident, you should attempt to notify both the police and your insurance company.
The report they create is important to you in your fender bender if you need to go against the other driver or their insurance company in order to get compensation for injury or damages.
If the fender bender damage is minor, no one in any vehicle involved is injured, and each driver involved in the accident has insurance, you don’t need to call the police.