Are you wondering what happens if you are on the other side of the coin and you are the one who caused an accident? If you are at fault in an accident, you might be wondering about what the potential ramifications are going to be and whether you will be able to recover some of the damage.
This guide will advise you on all the potential steps that you should take if you are at fault for a car accident.
Read on to learn more.
File a Claim with Your Insurance Company
If you are responsible for an accident, you are the at-fault party. Understandably, the victim is going to file a claim against your insurance policy with or without the help of their lawyer. Potentially, the victim is also going to file a lawsuit against you to cover their damages. Now, filing a lawsuit happens rarely – but – if you are responsible for a car accident, then you are now the defendant.
You will be defending yourself against the claim of the victim. In such a situation, the first thing that you should always do is file a claim with your insurance company. The reason why you should file a claim with your insurance company is because the victim of the accident will be doing this anyway.
Subsequently, you really need to cooperate and work with your insurance company regardless of who they are. Now, in this rare situation, your insurance company could be your best friend. Keep in mind that this is why you purchased auto insurance in the first place.
Comply with the Law
It is important to mention here that sometimes, at-fault drivers, the defendant, did not want to turn over their insurance information to the victims of the accident. You should know that not cooperating and not complying with the law is a bad move.
If you aren’t cooperative, you should know that this is almost a guaranteed way to get sued. If you are at fault or responsible for a car accident, turn the information over to your insurance company and let them deal with it. It is their job, and this is also the reason why you signed up with the insurance company in the first place.
Sometimes, at-fault drivers call car accident lawyers, such as the Denver Car Accident Lawyers, if they are in Denver, to seek compensation for their pain and suffering. However, the law about causing the accident is that if you are at fault, you will not be able to recover from your pain and suffering.
However, depending on your auto insurance policy, you might have coverage for some of your medical bills. This aspect is also known as Med-Pay and is typically very cheap as it usually covers the first few thousand dollars of your medical bills.
On that note, if you don’t have health insurance, we strongly recommend looking into Med-Pay.
Work With Your Insurance Company in Good Faith
Once a claim is filed with your insurance company, it is your responsibility to work with them in good faith. Sometimes, things go a certain way, such as people who caused the accident not responding to the inquiries of their insurance company. They also do not offer or agree to provide them with a recorded statement.
You should know that if you are the at-fault driver, then you must avoid all such mistakes that could indicate that you are clearly not cooperating or willing to cooperate on the matter. It is your responsibility to help your insurance company with the following:
- Give them a recorded statement.
- Get an estimate for the potential damages.
- Work closely with your insurance company to get the claim resolved as soon as possible.
If you do not do the following, your insurance company could deny your claim entirely, which is just another way to get sued. Getting sued is the last thing that you should be dealing with as the at-fault driver in an accident.
Understand the Practical Ramifications of the Accident
Now, the question is, what are the practical ramifications of having caused an accident or hit someone? The number one thing that you might be dreading the most is that your insurance rate might be going up. There is almost no way out of it.
Some insurance companies have different deals for accidents, such as forgiveness. However, generally speaking, if you cause an accident, you can expect the insurance rates to go up. It is a fact of life, and the sooner you accept it, the better it will be for you in the long run, as it won’t be stressing you this much out.
Expect A Higher Insurance Rate
If the higher rates are bugging you, you should think of it this way: what if you didn’t have auto insurance? You would be in great trouble for the damages that you caused to the victim. Accidents happen all the time. People are driving around on the streets without auto insurance.
So, you are not one of those people, and you did the right thing when you opted for car insurance right after you got your car. On that note, the best thing you can do is to get in touch with your insurance company and pay the price now because if you don’t have insurance, then you will be paying for it later.
Make Sure You Have Comprehensive Coverage
Another thing that you should know is that if you have been in an accident, then you must have some damage to your vehicle as well. Of course, you should want your insurance company to cover those damages.
Often, this aspect depends on whether or not you have the right type of insurance in advance or prior to the accident. On that note, we strongly suggest that you call your agent at the insurance company and ensure that you have comprehensive coverage for a collision in your car.
This way, in case you cause an accident, you can still get your car repaired. You might also wonder about whether you can get reimbursed for your lost wages. Generally, if you caused the accident, you cannot recover your lost wages. However, some insurance policies include something known as personal injury protection, in which case you might be able to recover for lost wages.
