Post-Accident Checklist for Non-Fault Car Crashes

Post-Accident Checklist for Non-Fault Car Crashes

Kansas sees thousands of car crashes each year. These crashes result in injury or fatality. In a perfect world, we would have neither. However, this world can be unpredictable, and it is important to prepare for scenarios that are sometimes out of our control. 

How do you deal with being in a car accident caused by another driver? Keep reading for some basic tips, but always consult with a car accident attorney about your options. 

Remember the basic essentials

We suggest making a checklist of things to remember to do as soon as possible. Then it may help to place the list in an easily accessible location in the car, such as the glove compartment. Some essential steps include:

1. Move your vehicle to the side of the road out of the way to safety.
2. Call 911 if you or anyone in the car has been injured.
3. Call the police to let them know of the accident.

Gather important information.

If you are in a position to get information after your accident, you should do what you can to find evidence to support that the accident wasn’t your fault. The details you are able to collect at the scene will help you in the long term. Thus you should:

• Get a copy of the accident report. 
• Take pictures of the vehicle damage.
• Gather contact information of witnesses.
• Gather the contact information of the police.
• Gather contact information of passengers.
• Get contact information from the other driver: driver’s license, plate number, name, address, and phone number.

Get medical attention.

After your accident, you should go to the doctor to make sure that there are no internal injuries or injuries that take shape after the accident that you didn’t feel initially. A doctor’s visit can give you the confidence you need to know that you are uninjured, or they can help begin the recovery process.

Understand state laws.

Kansas is a no-fault state that requires all drivers to get Personal Injury Protection (PIP) from accidents. PIP will pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket losses up to the limits of your policy. 

A victim of a car accident may file a claim for economic damages such as past and future medical and lost wages and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, scarring, disfigurement, permanent injury, etc. They may also file a claim for the amount of money that exceeds that which is disbursed from PIP coverage.

You may also seek to be compensated for a damaged vehicle. The challenge of being compensated for non-economic damages is that it can be difficult to determine the full gamut of damages if a driver is asking for a large amount.

Contact your insurance company

You might not be at fault, but your insurance company will provide a starting point for negotiations. In a no-fault state like Kansas, an insurance company will pay a victim of an accident despite fault. You want your lawyer to handle this notification.

Protect your rights with a Kansas personal injury lawyer today

If you or a loved one has been in a car accident, you should protect your legal rights. The personal injury lawyer at Pyle Law has years of experience. Contact us today at (620) 241-9000 to set up a free consultation.