What to Do After a Not-at-Fault Car Accident?
November 23, 2022
Following a car accident for which you were not at fault, we recommend:
- Not admitting fault
- Filing an incident report
- Gathering evidence
- Seeking medical attention
- Calling your insurance company
- Getting a consult with a personal injury law firm
Doing all of these tasks and others can help protect your right to seek compensation. With the help of our car accident lawyers, we can assist you throughout the legal process so you can focus on your recovery.
Protecting Your Rights after the Accident
If there is no apparent at-fault party in the accident, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t one. Even if you were partially responsible for the accident, never admit it. Your chances of receiving compensation can then end up taking a huge hit.
In addition, these other factors can help you protect your right to seek compensation following a car accident when you are not at fault:
Filing an Accident Report
You must call the police or file a Report of Traffic Crash (SR-1) through the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 10 days of the accident if you were in an accident that involved:
- Someone being injured or killed, or
- There was $750 or more of property damage (per NRS §484E.070)
If a police officer was called to the scene, they probably already wrote an incident report, so there is no need for you to write one. Just pick it up later through the Nevada Highway Patrol. This documentation will have the information about the day and time of the accident, who was involved and their insurance policies, and other important details about the crash.
Gathering Evidence
Gathering evidence is a major key to building a case. Part of this task includes:
- Getting the other involved party’s (and witnesses’) contact information
- Taking photos of your injuries or the accident scene
- Obtaining the police report
- Writing down everything you can remember regarding the sequence of events leading up to and following the crash
Getting Prompt Medical Help
After an accident, it is a good idea to consult your doctor and get a physical exam, as you can ensure that you have no underlying injuries stemming from the accident. According to the Mayo Clinic, some symptoms of injuries, like a traumatic brain injury (TBI), won’t show up until several days after an accident. The longer you wait to seek medical attention, the more you risk worsening the condition.
Going to the doctor soon after a car accident can also help connect the accident to your injuries, which will give the insurance companies less of a reason to offer you an insufficient settlement.
Notifying Your Insurance Company
Whenever there is any damage to your vehicle or you are injured, you must notify the insurance company.
If you don’t call them soon after the accident, this inaction could be used against you later on in the legal process, especially if there was property damage or if someone was injured or died.
Consulting with a Personal Injury Law Firm
Our personal injury lawyers can assist you with all the tasks listed above, in addition to others, such as:
- Talking to your insurance company on your behalf
- Identifying all liable parties
- Interviewing witnesses
- Helping you comply with Nevada’s two-year statute of limitations, per NRS §11.190(4)(e)
- Advocate for you at trial, if necessary
We can get started on your case by working on contingency, so we won’t charge you anything out of pocket or hourly. Instead, we will deduct our payment from your final compensatory award. If you don’t get reimbursed, neither will we.
For a free legal consultation, call (855) 605-2959
Getting Compensation after a Car Accident
Whether you pursue compensation via an insurance claim or lawsuit, you must specify how the accident affected your life physically, emotionally, and financially.
You can claim:
Non-Economic Losses
The effects of a car accident can take a toll on our psychological and physical well-being. You might have the right to recover your:
- Past and future mental anguish
- Past and future pain and suffering
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Disability
Economic Losses
The significant costs in the aftermath of a car accident can put a dent in your finances, so consider claiming compensation for:
- Past lost wages
- Future loss of earning capacity
- Past and future medical bills
- Property damage
- In-home care expenses
Because these damages might be a lot to quantify, we can review all of them and come to an appropriate amount you can request. You might even qualify for other damages that are not listed here.
The Attorneys at High Stakes Injury Law Are Ready to Get Started on Your Case
Not totally sure about what you should do after a car accident when you were not at fault? Reach out to High Stakes Injury Law today at (702) 707-5934 for a free case review. We have helped clients win hundreds of millions of dollars with our more than 60 years of experience. Let’s help you today.
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I Was Injured In An Accident.
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By Scott L. Poisson
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Dealing With The Insurance Company
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