Car accidents can cause extensive injuries and damages to you and your vehicle. After an accident, you might be worried about paying for your medical and mechanic bills, but if the accident wasn’t your fault, you shouldn’t have to pay those fees. If you can prove that you weren’t at fault for the accident, then you could get to a more stable place financially, but how can you prove that?
At the Law Offices of Todd W. Burris, PLLC, we know how hard it can be to handle a car accident that wasn’t your fault. We can help you prove the other party was at fault from recklessness or negligence, or if it wasn’t the driver’s fault, it could be the fault of their car manufacturer for a defective part. Whatever the case may be, if it wasn’t your fault, you shouldn’t have to pay. Let’s take a look at how you can build your case to prove you weren’t at fault in a car accident.
Steps to Take After an Auto Wreck
Immediately after a car accident, you’re probably focused on getting to safety. While that should be your first instinct, once you are safe, your next thoughts should be about gathering as much information about the accident as you can in case you need it later. Here are the steps you should follow after a collision so that you can build your car accident claim and prove you weren’t at fault:
- Call the police. Once you have established that you are out of harm’s way, your first step should be calling the police. They will come to the scene, record statements, and get further help for anyone who needs it. When speaking with the police, it’s important that you don’t place blame on anyone, including yourself by saying “sorry,” because it could hurt your case later.
- Take pictures of the scene. The more photographed proof of the scene that you have, the better. Take pictures of the scene, your car, its damages, the other car, and any surrounding obstacles that might have caused the accident, like weather or debris in the road. You can also take pictures of any visible injuries that you have from the collision.
- Exchange contact information. Even though talking to the driver who caused your accident might be the last thing you want to do, you’ll want to remain calm and get their contact information. Their name, phone number, and insurance information will come in handy later for your claim. Just like with the police officer, it’s crucial that you do not place blame on the other driver. Accusing them of causing the accident or you saying sorry could jeopardize your case.
- Get information from witnesses. If any people saw your accident and are willing to give you or the police a statement, collect their contact information. The more witness statements you can get, the more proof you could have that the other driver caused the accident.
- Seek medical attention. Once you’ve collected all the information you could at the scene, you should be seen by a doctor, even if you don’t believe you’re injured. A doctor will be able to evaluate you and document any injuries you might have suffered from the crash. Medical records can help your case later on if you need to prove that the accident directly caused physical injuries for compensation.
- Hire an attorney. All of these steps can be overwhelming on your own. A car accident lawyer from the Law Office of Todd W. Burris, PLLC can help you sort through what you should and shouldn’t do after your accident and can help you prove that you weren’t at fault for the wreck.
Kentucky’s No-Fault Laws
Since Kentucky follows a no-fault system, recovering compensation for your accident could be complex. Our state laws are set up so that your own insurance is supposed to cover your injury and damage costs after an accident, but sometimes that coverage isn’t enough. When you’ve been in an accident that wasn’t your fault and want to recover for damages that you didn’t cause, then you should speak with a Lexington car accident lawyer who can guide you through the exact steps necessary to make your case.
At the Law Office of Todd W. Burris, PLLC, we know how complicated a car accident claim might seem in our state. That’s why we’re here to help. No one should be in over their heads financially after a wreck that they didn’t cause, so we want to help you get back on your feet and get peace of mind. If you think you might have a claim, reach out to us, and we can discuss your legal options.
