When you are involved in an accident in Colorado, it can be an extremely stressful and overwhelming experience. Learn how to Deal with Insurance After Getting in an Accident and the Do’s and Don’ts. You need to deal with your car being in the shop for repairs, figuring out how to get to work or take care of other responsibilities while your car is being fixed, making sure the other driver is taken care of as well, and a million other details. Similarly, dealing with car insurance after an accident can also be overwhelming. There are many complicated details that you have to think about and plan for after you get in an accident, such And what is covered under your policy and what isn’t? What do you do if the other driver doesn’t have insurance? Do you have third-party liability? These are all very important questions that you need to know before getting into an accident so that you can plan accordingly. Here are some helpful guidelines on dealing with car insurance after getting into an accident.
Know Your Insurance Options Beforehand and Know How To Deal With An Insurance Company
The first thing you need to do when you are involved in an accident is to make sure you are familiar with your car insurance policy. Learn How to Deal with Insurance After Getting in an Accident. If you don’t know the details of your policy and what is and isn’t covered and you have an accident, then you are going to have an extremely difficult time when it comes to dealing with your insurance company. This means you need to do a little bit of research beforehand and know what types of coverage you have and what is and isn’t covered under your policy. When in doubt, ask your insurance company directly what types of coverage are included in your policy. You need to find this out beforehand so that you aren’t blindsided and aren’t expecting more from your policy than you actually get.
Check to See if the Other Driver is At-Fault
One of the first things you need to do after an accident is to make sure the other driver is at fault. If the other driver is at-fault, then you won’t have to deal with your car insurance company other than with medical payments, or possibly, property damage if you choose to go through your own insurance company. Ideally, the other driver’s insurance will take care of everything and you won’t need to do anything. If the other driver is at-fault for the accident, then he or she will have to pay for all damages out of their own pocket. Unfortunately, things don’t always go this way and you may find yourself dealing with your car insurance company after an accident. You may even be unsure if the other driver is at fault. If this is the case, you may want to get a police report after the accident as well as exchange information with the other driver to let your insurance company know what happened. This will help speed things up when it comes to settling your claim.
You’re Not At Fault, But You Still Need to Deal With Insurance
In a perfect world, the other driver would be at-fault for the accident, but this isn’t always the case. If you are not at-fault for the accident, but the other driver has minimal or no car insurance, then you will have to deal with your insurance company – it is critical you know what to do and what not to do when dealing with an insurance company after an accident. This is particularly true if the other driver ends up being a hit-and-run driver. If the other driver flees the scene of the accident, you will have to report it to your insurance company as a hit-and-run accident. Your insurance company will then have to go after the other driver for the damages. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always work out in your favor. Your insurance company may not be able to get the other driver to pay for damages and you may be stuck paying for them out of your own pocket. In this situation, you should always report the accident to your insurance company and let them know the other driver was uninsured. Doing so will help speed up the process of getting all repairs taken care of. Hiring an experienced attorney is critical.
What Is Covered When in an Accident?
When you are in an accident and you have car insurance, there are several things that your car insurance policy will cover. This includes towing and towing fees, car rental fees, damage to your car, repairs to your car, and medical expenses. Your car insurance will cover damage to your car, but it will not cover damage to the other car. If the other car is seriously damaged and has to be taken to the shop, your insurance policy will cover the car rental fees and towing fees associated with taking your car to the shop for repairs. Your policy will also cover any medical expenses you incur because of the accident if you were at fault. If you were not at fault, you will have to put your carrier on notice for potential Med Pay or underinsured motorist benefits Your Med Pay should cover your doctor’s visits, x-ray scans, and prescriptions you may need to get because of the accident. Your car insurance will also cover repairs to your car. If your car is seriously damaged, your insurance company may even give you a rental car. Accident?
While your car insurance policy will cover a lot of things when you are in an accident, there are some things that may not be covered depending on the specific facts of your injury case. Your car insurance policy may not cover damages to the other car or injuries to the other driver. If the other car is seriously damaged and needs repairs, you may have to cover these costs yourself. If the other driver is seriously injured, then you may have to cover the medical expenses out of your own pocket and you may even be sued for damages by the other driver. Your car insurance will also not cover any damage to other things in the accident. This includes damage to fences, sidewalks, buildings, and other cars that were involved in the accident.
Bottom Line
When you are in an accident, it is important that you know how your insurance works in order to make sure you are fully covered. You will want to let your insurance company know as soon as possible after the accident so that they can start processing the claims. You also want to make sure that you exchange information with the other driver and get a police report as soon as possible so that you can prove you weren’t at fault. It is also important that you look out for hit-and-run drivers who may flee the scene of the accident. If the other driver isn’t at fault or doesn’t have any insurance, then your insurance company will have to go after them.
Mandelaris Law represents victims of car accidents and workers’ compensation cases. Personal injury, car accidents, trucking accidents, and workers’ compensation claims and disputes are a mainstay of our practice. Call (303) 357-9757 today for a free consultation for car accidents and workers’ compensation injuries.