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What To Do After A Car Accident That's Not Your Fault

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Car Accident That Wasn't Your Fault?

Car accidents happen thousands of times every day across the United States and if you are on any of Colorado’s most dangerous roads and highways every day traveling to work, it could very well happen to you. But what if you get in an accident that wasn’t your fault? Are you prepared for what to do in that situation? Don’t worry, Rector Stuzynski LLC specializes in helping clients who were involved in car accidents and we can give you the advice you need to make sure your claim goes as smoothly as possible. If you were involved in an accident, get in touch with our Colorado Springs auto accident lawyers today for a free consultation and evaluation of your case.

Man Taking Pictures Of Car After An Accident In Colorado Springs

Our Step By Step Guide

Important Note: Do not admit guilt or say you are sorry during the entire process after the accident. Whether you are talking to the police, the other driver or passengers, remember not to admit fault.

  1. Get yourself to safety – Immediately after the accident occurs, make sure to get yourself and any of your passengers to safety right away. Get out of the vehicle and move away from any traffic flow by going onto sidewalks, shoulders, or any available space that is out of the way of danger from passing cars. If you can turn your hazard lights on in your vehicle, this can help other drivers see your stopped car and avoid hitting your vehicle. It could take a while to clear the roadway of your vehicle and debris so stay in a safe place the entire time to avoid any further injuries.
  2. Notify the police – The police will need to investigate the accident if there were any injuries. If there are no injuries the police department may not come to the scene depending on how busy they are or if they have any free officers in the area. This has been more common since the COVID-19 pandemic.  If you can, try to insist that an officer come to the scene, but even if you are persistent, they may not.  You will likely be encouraged to file a cold report on their website.  If you are given this opportunity, do not neglect to file the report.  Be sure to get the name, address, telephone number, and insurance policy number of the other drivers involved because this information will be critical to your ability to recover for your damages later. Rural areas have a much harder time getting police response for car accidents where injuries are not immediately apparent. When the police get to the scene they will start their investigation of what happened, who was at fault, if any laws were broken, work up a police report, etc. Remember no to admit fault when speaking with the officers about the incident, it may be hard to do, but try your best so you have a better case if you have to go to court over the accident.
  1. Exchange insurance information – You will need to get the other driver’s license plate number, vehicle make and model, their insurance information and the driver’s name and address. Have your information ready as well to provide the other driver with. The insurance companies will have to contact each other as well to handle the claim so make sure you always have your current insurance information on hand.
  2. Gather evidence – At this time, go ahead and take pictures of the entire accident scene. Get wide view angles of the scene so it is clear what happened and where. Video of the entire scene is also a good idea. Make sure to show skid marks, damages, the impact spots, injury photos and document any areas that show the at-fault driver had broken the law such as traffic signals, speed limits, yield signs, solid lines they crossed, etc. If there were any eye-witnesses to the accident ask them for their contact information or have them stick around and give their statement of the event to the police. All of this information will help your attorney build a solid case to prove you weren’t at fault and get you a better settlement from the insurance company.
  3. Get checked by a medical professional – If paramedics come to the scene, they will check you for injuries. It is always advised to also go to the doctor and have a thorough check-up done to ensure you don’t have any bone fractures, whiplash, spinal issues or internal bleeding that you may not notice due to shock from the incident. If injuries go unnoticed and pop up at a later date without any previous evidence, it can be much harder to recover damages and have the insurance company pay for those medical bills. Make sure you get proper medical care, not only for your case but for your overall health as well. Often times the adrenaline associated with the accident will cause you to overlook symptoms of pain.  These can worsen over the next few days, or even more immediately in a serious injury as the adrenaline wears off.  Listen to your body and make sure to get the treatment you feel is necessary.  
  4. Contact your insurance company – Now it’s time to contact your insurance company and notify them you were in an auto accident. Give them the details and provide whatever evidence you were able to come up with. Make sure to ask about what they cover for you, including rental cars, deductibles, fixing your car and more. This way you have an idea of what the process will look like for your transportation situation in the days after the accident.
  5. Contact a lawyer – Now you need to speak with a lawyer about your case to see if there is a valid case for settlement outside of the normal insurance dealings. Many times the insurance company won’t pay full amounts, won’t cover medical bills or rentals or many other things that could end up leaving you with a large bill to be paid on your own. An experienced car accident attorney can help make sure you are receiving full compensation for any injuries, property damages or vehicle damages that you may have sustained. Make sure you choose a law firm with decades of experience fighting insurance companies because that knowledge can equate to much bigger settlements and a much faster recovery for yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I talk to the other insurance company after the accident?

If you are planning to hire an attorney, it is best not to talk to the other insurance company after the accident unless you do so with your injury attorney present. The insurance company will likely try to get you to admit some fault of your own during the call so never speak to them without your attorney present. An experienced car accident lawyer will know how to prepare you for this recorded statement to ensure that your chances of recovery are maximized.  

How will a car accident attorney help me?

An experienced auto accident attorney will know exactly how to make sure your claim gets the maximum possible compensation. This is critical so you are able to pay for all of your medical expenses, vehicle repair bills, rental cars, lost wages, property damages and more. Many car accident cases end up being worth much more than you would think, so make sure to contact an attorney after the accident or you might end up with bills you can’t afford to pay because you took a low ball offer.

Contact Our Auto Accident Law Firm Today

Rector Stuzynski LLC has decades of experience fighting insurance companies and we have an in-depth knowledge of the exact strategies they use to lower their payouts. With this edge, we know exactly where to look and how to get the maximum compensation for your auto accident claim. As a top rated Colorado car accident attorney, you can trust that your case is in good hands at Rector Stuzynski LLC. Our consultations are always free and our accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay anything unless we get you a settlement.

Areas We Serve

We serve clients injured anywhere throughout the state of Colorado, but we focus on residents of these areas: Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Fountain, Briargate, Monument, Black Forest, Pueblo, Canon City, Larkspur, Security-Widefield, Peyton, Castle Rock, Teller County, El Paso County, Elbert County, Park County, Douglas County and beyond.