If you’re involved in a car accident, it’s completely understandable to be confused about what to do afterward. If you believe that the other driver was at fault, you might be hesitant to share your information with them. However, you need to exchange your information with the other driver so that the companies can determine who was at fault in the accident and who should pay for what.
Why Do I Need to Share My Insurance?
Most states, including Georgia, are called at-fault states, which means that the insurance companies determine who holds how much blame in an accident on the road. To make sure that the process of determining fault and processing claims can be executed as fast and smoothly as possible, you need to exchange your information with the other driver.
The at-fault driver’s companies will be responsible for paying for the other driver’s damages, but the drivers themselves don’t have the power to point fingers. Both drivers have a right to file a claim with the other insurance company for damages while waiting for fault to be determined.
What Do Insurance Companies Pay for?
Every accident on the road is unique, but most are expensive, even if they don’t result in catastrophic damage or personal injury. For instance, you might need insurance companies to help you pay for:
- Damage to Your Car: Repairing a vehicle isn’t cheap, and you shouldn’t have to pay for damage you didn’t cause. The at-fault driver’s insurance company should compensate you so you can take care of the property damage.
- Medical Bills: Even if you’re not extremely hurt after an accident, medical bills can stack up. No matter the extent of the collision you were involved in, it’s a good idea to go get your health checked out by a medical professional afterward to attend to any hidden injuries. If you do need any tests or treatments, these can cause financial strain. Filing a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance can help.
- Pain and Suffering: Being involved in an accident can cause all kinds of physical pain and emotional distress. Sometimes, car insurance companies provide compensation for intense suffering and anguish as a result of an accident.
- Costs of Legal Support: Sometimes, if you have had to pay legal fees to fight for compensation and prove that you were not at fault, the insurance company paying might cover some of these fees.
What Do I Do if I’m Blamed for an Accident, but I’m Not at Fault?
Unfortunately, insurance companies are not the most sympathetic to people who have been in car accidents. They usually want to minimize their payouts and, therefore, might try to accuse you of being at fault when you are not. The at-fault driver might also try to convince you to admit blame to move along the claim process. The most important thing to do in this kind of situation is to not admit blame. Stand your ground and contact an experienced car accident lawyer to back up your claim so you get the compensation you deserve.
Contact a Compassionate Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you’re unsure of what information to share after a car accident or you feel you need legal support to prove that you were not the one at fault for an accident, you should get in touch with an experienced lawyer. Resolving fault and receiving compensation after a vehicle accident is not always easy, and when you’re dealing with processing the accident, you don’t need to deal with a legal mess all alone. Contact our compassionate team at Lamar Law Offices to get legal support today.