What Should I Do After a Car Accident That Wasn't My Fault?

Being involved in any kind of car accident can be a frustrating and even frightening experience. Even if there are no serious injuries, it certainly puts a damper on your day, to say the least. If you or a loved one was involved in an accident and there were injuries, this will probably be even more stressful for you. Thinking about lawyers and lawsuits probably isn’t your first thought, which is totally understandable. At some point, however, you should consider thinking about a lawyer you can hire and what steps you can take next. 

That’s where we come in. If you’re wondering what to do after a car accident that was not your fault, it’s very understandable, and we can help. Morgan & Morgan has been handling car accident cases for decades, and we are always available to assist you. Throughout our careers, we have recovered more than $20 billion dollars for our clients. Our goal is to make this process as easy and stress-free as possible for you. We will handle your case every step of the way and keep you updated throughout. Contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free case consultation. 

What to Do After a Car Accident That Was Not Your Fault

After you’ve been in a car accident, your adrenaline is probably high, and you may forget all of the steps you’re supposed to take. If you ever find yourself in that situation, consider taking the following steps. 

1. Call the police
Anytime you’re involved in a car accident, it’s wise to call the police. This way, an official police report is made and there is documentation of what occurred. It becomes even more important if you believe that you weren’t at fault for the accident. The police report might state that the other car was at fault, and it will describe the scene of the accident, which can help prove that the crash wasn’t your fault. Obviously before you do anything at all, make sure you’re in a safe place and not in any danger of being hit by other cars.

2. Take photos 
Another important step you can take if you’re wondering what to do after a car accident that was not your fault is to take photos of everything around you. This includes your car, any damages you see, photos of anyone else’s car that was involved in the accident, and the overall scene of where the accident took place. It’s also a good idea to take photos of any physical injuries you have. Personal injury cases rely heavily on what type of injuries you received, so the more photos you have, the better. 

3. Seek medical attention 
If you feel like you need to see a doctor, you should do so immediately. Even if you don’t have visible injuries, it’s still a good idea to get examined. Many injuries that people receive when they are involved in a car accident can be internal, so having testing or imaging done to ensure that you’re okay is a good idea.

4. Don’t say anything to anyone
It can be tempting to talk to people who were involved in the accident or who witnessed it. While it’s okay to get contact information from anyone who is available, it’s never a good idea to talk about the actual accident or admit fault in any way. Anything you say at the scene of the accident has the potential to be used against you in court. By speaking to someone other than a lawyer about your accident, you’d likely be making your case more difficult than it needs to be. If you don’t know what to do after a car accident that was not your fault, just keep quiet and wait for professional help.

5. Contact a lawyer 
Finally, one of the most important things you can do after a car accident is to contact a lawyer. They can help you determine who was at fault and if you have a viable claim or not. If they believe that you have a valid claim, they can help you with the next steps and take care of initiating everything for you. 

How to Find a Lawyer After a Car Accident That Was Not Your Fault

Now that you know you need a lawyer, the difficult part arrives: how do you find one? Consider the following tips when trying to determine who to hire:

1. Ask for recommendations
The best way to find a lawyer is to ask friends and family if they have any recommendations for you. Find out if they’ve ever been in a similar situation and if they’ve had to use an attorney and if they were satisfied or not. If your friends and family don’t know any personal injury attorneys, ask if they know of any lawyers at all that they trust. They can ask that lawyer to get a recommendation for a good personal injury attorney. Hiring someone that comes from a trusted person can make the situation a lot more comfortable than trying to hire someone you’ve never met and that you know nothing about. 

2. Search online and look at reviews
Many people won’t be able to receive a recommendation from friends or family. In this case, the next best thing is to search online. Look for personal injury attorneys near you and see what results you get. Look through some of their websites and get a feel for the type of law that they practice. Take a look at attorney bios and try to get an overall feel for the attorney and the firm. Once you choose a few lawyers that you think might be good for your case, you can start looking at reviews about those lawyers from past clients. Most attorneys will have reviews or testimonials on their website, but keep in mind that these are typically handpicked, meaning you will never find any negative reviews here. You want to make sure you look at all of the information on other websites, such as Google or even Facebook. These reviews are much more likely to give you a realistic idea of what former clients think of that attorney.

3. Set up free consultations 
Once you’ve looked at reviews and made a short list of attorneys you would consider hiring, the next step is to set up free consultations. Almost all personal injury attorneys will offer a free consultation so you can discuss your case with them briefly, ask any questions you have, and see if they’re willing to take your case. Meeting in person is a great way to tell if you think you can work well with that attorney. Since these consultations are free, the most you will spend is a bit of your time. 

If it wasn’t my fault, do I really need a lawyer?

Absolutely! Regardless of who is at fault, you should always hire a lawyer if you’ve been involved in a car accident. A lawyer can help prove that the accident wasn’t your fault. It’s not uncommon for the other driver involved in the accident to blame you, even if it was their fault. When you have legal representation, it shows people that you’re serious and allows them to treat you with respect and not try to take advantage of you. If you’re looking to recover the maximum amount of compensation possible, hiring a lawyer after an accident – even if it wasn’t your fault – is crucial. 

What does it mean if I’m in a no-fault state?

If you were in a car accident that was not your fault in a no-fault state, what this typically means is that you’re required to file a claim with your own insurance company as opposed to the other driver’s insurance company. This can substantially limit the amount of compensation you’re able to recover. For this reason, you might want to pursue a civil personal injury claim against the other driver if you believe they were at fault for the accident. This is exactly what an experienced lawyer will be able to help you determine, and one of the important reasons why you would hire them.

Can I recover damages for pain and suffering if I didn’t suffer any physical injuries?

This will depend on what state your car accident took place in. Some states will allow you to pursue a claim for pain and suffering even if you didn’t suffer physical injuries. In that case, your compensation may end up being taxable, whereas usually if you recover compensation for physical injuries, it’s not taxable. This is another issue that is very fact-specific, so you’ll want to speak with a local attorney who knows all the laws and regulations about pain and suffering damages in regard to car accidents in your area. 

Morgan & Morgan Can Help With Your Car Accident Case

Finding an experienced car accident attorney can be daunting, especially if you’ve never had to deal with the legal system before. It’s important to find a lawyer who is experienced and dedicated, and who truly cares about your case as much as you do. At Morgan & Morgan, all of our lawyers are trained in negotiating and litigating, so you will never find a lawyer who is afraid to go to trial. This also means that our lawyers will never try to push a settlement offer on you if they truly believe that your case is worth more. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if you get paid, which helps give you peace of mind that we will work as hard as possible to get a successful outcome for you. We have attorneys throughout the United States, so no matter where you’re located, we can assist. Contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free consultation.