If you’ve never been in a car accident, you’re the exception rather than the rule. The average driver claims for coverage after a collision every 17 years, with each accident costing an average of $23, 450. If you’re involved in a not at fault accident, you might find those costs stacking against you if you don’t follow the correct procedures. Of course, the first step after a collision is making sure everyone involved is safe or in need of medical care. A police report must be made, even if everyone is unharmed.
Step One: Collect Evidence
Photographs of the position of the cars, skid marks, and the like tell more about the collision than you might imagine. Snap any property damage, injuries, and surrounding traffic signs, too. The at-fault driver’s negligence will need to be proved, and graphic evidence is persuasive. Even a small accident can leave you in shock, so pictures are a useful way to support your memory. If an ignored traffic sign is responsible for the accident, try to include the at fault driver’s car and the relevant sign in the same picture. You’ll also need photographs of police officers and paramedics. You’ll probably remember to take down the insurance and contact details of the at fault driver, but don’t forget about witnesses. Others’ statements are powerful scraps of evidence that, when combined with the rest of your data, fills in the patchy and hard-to-prove details that support your claim.
Step Two: Inform the At Fault Driver’s Insurer
Even a not at fault accident requires you to inform the at fault driver’s insurer. This way, any negligence on the part of the other driver will be negated. The sooner the insurer collects police reports, statements, and photographs, the more solid your case will be.
Step Three: Inform Your Insurer
Your insurance policy might have coverage for the accident, even if you’re not at fault. Collision insurance may cover repairs or offer a deductible. That said, claims could push up your premiums, so before you claim, make sure you live in a state that prohibits not at fault surcharges.
Step Four: What Not to Do
- Don’t admit you’re at fault.
- Don’t lose your temper or lay blame.
- Don’t put off getting medical advice. Collisions can cause injuries that only show symptoms much later.
- Don’t leave the accident scene, even if your car is drivable.
- Don’t negotiate with the at fault driver before you speak to your lawyer.
- Don’t procrastinate on calling a lawyer, who will be needed to advise you on your claims.
Negligence is as much a fault as any, but it can be difficult to prove, especially when the accident is caused by the negligence of an automobile manufacturer. Put on your best CSI face and gather all the evidence you can—as soon as you can, and as clearly as you can.
Being in the wrong place
Being in the wrong place at the wrong time as they say doesn’t make being involved in a not at fault car accident any less stressful. It is very important that you try to remain calm and ensure that everyone involved is safe and sound.
When it comes to your damaged car and almost more importantly how you are going to continue your day to day life without a car whilst its being repaired we have you covered Australia wide.
Use our quick and easy online application and you’ll be well on your way to being back on the road with an accident hire car, on many occasion on the same day as the accident.
Information required
The information required to have your vehicle repaired and to obtain a replacement car are very similar.
The most important information to obtain are details including location and approximate time of accident, other vehicle’s registration plate, phone number and licence details.
If you have this information handy there will be minimal delays in processing your claim.
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You’re not at fault but NOT INSURED
If you happen not to be comprehensively insured or not insured at all and the other party in the accident was at fault then you can still fix your vehicle without any issues provided the other party is insured.
You’d simply need to find out who the person at faults vehicle is insured with and contact that insurer to advise them that their client has hit your vehicle. In the event that the other party isn’t insured things will then become a little trickier and you may need to engage the services of a Lawyer.
Extent of damage
We like to inform our clients that just because the extent of damage visually caused may seem quite minimal or not evident in some cases please do not ignore getting your car repaired or looked at by a licenced Smash Repair workshop.
Vehicles these days contain plastic bumper bars and when they absorb an impact they sometimes pop back out giving the initial visual effect that there is no damage except for a few light scratches.
In reality you may be surprised to know that there are plastic brackets, clips, bar absorbers etc which could be damaged underneath the bumper bar and could possibly even compromise the safety of the vehicle. Please be sure to have professionals to investigate further.