When accidents happen to you, you want the person liable to pay the expenses. If it was not your fault, you do not want to pay the consequences, right? Well, there are certain things you do to get out of the accident without additional damages, both physically and financially.
Before that, figure out first if your state is a fault or no-fault state.
What is a Fault State?
There are different policies and laws regarding car crash cases in each state. These laws determine who will be liable for the damages. There are states that the person at fault pays for everything, then there are states where both parties get to pay for the losses.
At-fault states or tort states charge the one who caused the crash. They are also expected to be the ones to pay for the damages caused to the other party. Most states follow this type of policy. The few states that divide the expenses between parties involved are called no-fault states.
How To Get The Bills Settled?
If you got involved and got harmed in an accident in an at-fault state, you must have reliable insurance, whether you are the victim or the one who caused the accident.
If you are the victim, you do not have to worry about expenses since the other party should be the one to shoulder all the payments for your injury recovery and car repairs. However, you can’t fully relax and rely on the policy. You need to take certain steps to be able to benefit and get the compensation you deserve.
There are instances wherein insurance can’t cover all the expenses. Also, if you filed a case, settlements can be delayed. You would need to shoulder the expenses (out-of-pocket) or rely on health insurance. As stated in https://www.hamparyan.com/who-pays-medical-bills-california-car-accident/, you can ask for more help from your health insurance provider through a medical lien. They will pay for your hospital bills and medical expenses while you wait for the settlement from the personal injury case.
Assess Damages
After an accident, see the damages to yourself and your car. Have yourself checked out by visiting a doctor! It is better to have a professional sign you a clean bill of health that assumes or neglects any injuries.
Check out your car as well by looking into visible damages first. See if you received bumps, scratches, or other major damages to the outside of your car. Also, bring your vehicle to a mechanic to check the insides.
Talk To Authorities
Always report accidents to the police. Usually, in an at-fault state, the authorities are the one who determines who is at fault. They will also be able to provide documents needed when you claim your settlements from insurance providers.
Gather Documents
You must be able to gather documents and other evidence of the accident. These are needed to be able to settle a deal with the other party. In worse cases, car crash accidents go into court trials where you would need to build up your case with enough strong evidence.
After an accident, this is some information you should know to ensure you get the benefits to pay your expenses. Make sure you get:
- personal information of the officers-in-charge
- name and contact number of the other driver
- Their driver’s license and plate number
- Insurance details
Also, take note of what their car looks like – its type, model, and color. Remember where the accident happened too. Other evidence your can gather are:
- Pictures of the accident
- Pictures of injuries
- Video footage of the accident
- Medical bills and certificates
File Claims With Insurance Company
To be able to get your medical bills paid by the other party’s insurance, you can choose between these legal options:
- Filling a claim with your own insurance
- Filling a claim with the other driver’s insurance
- File a case against the other party
Filling a claim the at-fault driver’s insurance or your own will let the insurance provider pay for your bills. However, depending on their policies, insurance may not be able to shoulder everything. Although usually, insurance policies can handle minor car accidents.
Your car must have insurance in case of unfortunate events. You should also read about their policies and learn about them. Be aware of how much your insurance can actually cover.
In major accidents that result in worse damages, you can opt to file a case against the ones liable. You easily win the case with the right evidence.
It is definitely a hassle to be involved in a car crash. But do not let yourself be hassled more when dealing with the outcome. Make sure that you get the benefits you deserve after a crash with these tips.