Around 90% of all accident claims are settled outside of trial when an attorney is involved. The reason that insurance companies do not like to take things to trial is because with the help of a good attorney on your side, they will lose, and they will lose badly. The process from claim initiation to claim settlement can be a long one.
That means you may still be liable for whoever operates your motor vehicle, even if they are a legal adult with their own insurance policy . This also means another driver’s insurance policy might only cover what happens if they drive their own vehicle, not yours.
Many car accident lawyers charge a settlement fee rather than an hourly rate. This means funds are taken when you win your case rather than you having to pay upfront.
When an accident occurs, many people panic — and understandably so. Your mind may be racing as you try to figure out what to do, and every option may seem like the wrong choice.
Accidents happen, and you may find yourself responsible when a crash occurs. In this scenario, you should take many of the same steps as drivers who are not at fault.
This is true whether your case goes to court or simply ends up on an insurance adjuster’s desk.
When you’re at fault for an accident, you may end up owing money for medical bills or vehicular damages. Make sure you get the following info from every party involved in the accident, especially the other driver:
Call a personal injury attorney after a car crash if any parties are injured. This includes yourself, the passengers in your car, the other driver, anyone in their vehicle and any pedestrians. You should also contact a car crash lawyer if there is vehicular damage or other personal property issues.
If the Other Driver is at Fault, You Should Still File a Claim. If the at-fault driver isn’t the person driving your car, the accident is handled just as if you were in the driver’s seat. The at-fault driver’s insurance company is responsible for paying. The main difference is that there could be two claims filed against their policy: One filed by ...
If the crash happens when they’re in a borrowed car, they will file a claim with their own insurance company, not the car owner’s insurance company.
If the friend or family member who borrowed your car is at fault in a crash, your insurance will unfortunately be involved. You’ll file a claim against your own policy, pay your deductible, and rely on their insurance only if yours doesn’t cover all of the costs.
As you can see, someone who loans their car to another person can end up having to take some responsibility for the borrower’s negligence.
If the driver is uninsured, the car owner can decide to sue him or her for damages. The car owner’s insurance policy is still the primary coverage if the person who borrows a car hurts or kills someone too. The victim can seek compensation for personal injuries suffered.
If You Need to File a Lawsuit. If the at-fault driver doesn’t have sufficient insurance to cover damages for both the car and the victim or victims who have been hurt, they are personally liable to pay. If they can’t, both the car owner and driver may decide to file a lawsuit.
If you lend your car to someone and they’re in an accident, gather as much information as you can, just as you would if you were present. As long as the driver of your car wasn’t at fault, you should be able to recover all of your costs for repairing the damage to your vehicle, including the deductible. If the friend or family member who borrowed ...
Report it to your insurance company asap, and do not respond to the other side at all. Let your own insurance company handle it, it is by the far the best approach, and it allows you peace of mind.
This is why you have automobile insurance. Let your insurance company handle it on your behalf. If the lady files a lawsuit, your insurance will hire attorneys to represent and defend you. Keep all of your notes and emails for use by your insurance company and attorneys.
You should just let your insurance handle the claim. No need to hire an attorney. One will be assigned to you of the other party and your insurance cannot reach a settlement and if a lawsuit is filed against you.
Do not disclose your policy limits yet. It sounds like this was a very minor accident and even the minimum insurance policy in California should be enough to cover this accident. Just let your insurance company handle this for you. If they file a lawsuit against you, your insurance company would hire a lawyer to defend you.
One of the things that most people don't know is that your automobile insurance policy requires your insurance company to defend you against any claims arising from a covered automobile collision. You do not usually need to hire your own attorney. Send the documents to your insurance company.
The simple way to handle this is to let your insurance company handle it. If they cannot get the claim resolved, and a lawsuit is filed, your insurance carrier will provide you with an attorney. Sounds like this will be resolved well before it gets to that point. Regards, Jeffrey Hughes
You should immediately contact your insurance company and let it handle this claim. Refer the opposing attorney to your insurance company and follow its instructions. This will be the safest way to ensure that you are defended and indemnified by it.
Most car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. (Learn more about how much a car accident lawyer costs .) If you decide to hire an attorney, you will need to sign a fee agreement, representation agreement, or some other document formally establishing the attorney as your legal representative.
Have you spoken to anyone else about the accident? This can include friends, family members, first responders, and anyone else involved in the accident.
You'll also need to provide any documents you have relating to the accident, such as medical bills, car repair estimates/invoices, photographs, police reports, e-mails and letters from insurance companies (and copies of any insurance claims you've filed related to the accident).
Make the most out of your first meeting with a car accident attorney, and make sure this person is the best fit for you and your case. After a car accident, once you've made the decision to hire an attorney, you're probably wondering what the first visit will entail. There are two main reasons for this meeting.
The first step will involve you explaining the facts of the accident, and the damages you've sustained. This conversation will probably be with the attorney, and/or one of the attorney's representatives, such as a legal secretary or paralegal.
Attorneys turn down cases for a variety of reasons, including: the attorney's workload. potential conflicts of interest. the scope of the lawsuit goes beyond the attorney's skills and experience, and. the attorney's firm may not have the financial resources to try your case, even though it has potential.
Even if an initial consultation has taken place online or over the telephone, the attorney will not have a full picture of the facts and circumstances surrounding your car accident case until the two of you can sit down and talk.