For as long as I can remember, the legal field has always fascinated me. While my friends watched sitcoms and cartoons, I chose to watch courtroom dramas and real life trials unfold. There was never really any question as to what I wanted to be when I got older. The only profession for me was that of a trial lawyer. Unfortunately, a serious car accident several years ago changed all that. Now, my injuries prevent me from leaving my home most days. However, my love for the law has never went away. While I may not be able to realize my dreams of becoming a trail lawyer, I still wish to help people with their legal problems. That is why I decided to start this blog. It is my hope that the information contained in these pages will help other accident victims like me when filing their personal injury claims.
When you get into a vehicle accident, the first thing you might be wondering is whether or not it needs to be reported. Many people don't like to report accidents if they are minor, because it puts a mark on your driving record and involves filing a police report in some cases. However, certain circumstances, such as having an injury, require you to report the accident. Here is more information about when and how to report a vehicle accident.
Do you need to report all vehicle accidents?
If you were just in a small fender bender with another vehicle, you and the other driver most likely don't have a serious injury. There may be a mild headache or whiplash if one of you was going a little fast, but in most cases, this is a minor accident that doesn't require a medical visit. However, you still might want to report the accident. Why? Because you might have vehicle damage. Even a small bump can cause damage to your bumper, the back of your car, or even cause your tail lights to crack. If you were hit by the car behind you, they should be responsible for paying these damages since it is their fault.
What if there was an injury?
It is really your choice whether or not to report an accident that did not involve injury, but many states require you to report all collisions leading to bodily injury. You need to report this accident to local law enforcement, even if it was a minor injury like wrist pain or neck pain. This is still an injury you got from an accident involving one or more cars. If the person drove off before you could gather their information, give any identification you can about that person's car, and see if there are any witnesses around that might have gotten more details than you did. Reporting the accident to law enforcement also helps you get contact information if the other driver was uncooperative.
Should you report accidents to your insurance company?
Not only do drivers not to like to report accidents to the police, but they also like to refrain from reporting them to their insurance company. You might be worried about the mark on your driving record and that your insurance premium will go up. However, like law enforcement, the insurance company needs to know about all accidents. If it comes up later where you had a late-appearing injury or damage to your car, and you didn't report, your claim will probably be denied. Insurance companies require you to report everything, and they are often not lenient if you fail to do so. The exception is if the accident occurred don your private property and didn't involve other drivers, such as if you accidentally hit a phone pole or your mailbox.
Any time you get into a vehicle accident, it helps to contact a truck accident attorney. Accident attorneys know how to work with insurance companies so you can file your claim correctly and get the benefits owed to you.
Share8 March 2015
