What should I do after an Accident?

Even the BEST drivers are subject to automobile accidents. Therefore, we should all know what steps to take immediately following an accident to protect everyone involved from further injuries. Doing the right thing, in the right way, at the right time may save a life; it will always minimize, and often avoid, legal problems.

Here are the steps you should take if you are involved in an accident with another vehicle or a pedestrian:

STOP YOUR CAR

Never leave the scene of an accident in which you or your vehicle were involved. No matter how slight the collision, if you fail to stop you may subject yourself to criminal prosecution, even though the accident was not your fault. Stop your vehicle as soon as possible without further endangering any person or property, and without obstructing traffic. Do whatever is necessary to warn oncoming traffic in order to prevent further accidents. If possible, station someone in position to warn approaching vehicles. At night, use flares or reflectors or your flashlight, if available.

GIVE AID TO THE INJURED

If any person has been hurt, call 911. Until help comes, do all you can to help the injured, but be careful. Unless you are proficient at rendering first aid, don't try it. You may make matters worse instead of better. For example, moving an injured person may aggravate the injury.

CALL THE POLICE

Police officers are trained to handle any situation that may result from or arise after an accident. If you are involved in an accident, even though you are not physically injured, you may suffer from shock and excitement which makes it difficult for you to think clearly at the time. Let the police officer take over when he arrives. He will handle any emergency and investigate the accident. His report of the accident may be helpful to you and your insurance company later if you are sued, or if you decide to sue the other party involved.

Always call 911 after an accident to report it to the authorities.

THE LAW REQUIRES INFORMATION

The motor vehicle law of Illinois requires the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident to give his name, address and the license number of the vehicle he is driving to the other party. If it is requested, the driver must exhibit his driver's license. Leaving the scene of an accident without furnishing such information may subject you to criminal prosecution.

If you collide with a vehicle which is unattended, the law requires you to locate the operator or owner of the vehicle and tell him your name and address. If you cannot locate the owner, leave a written message stating your name and address and the circumstances of the collision in a conspicuous place or in the unattended vehicle.

The best policy is to give no more information than the law requires. Do not comment on the cause of the accident, and do not admit fault even if you think you were in the wrong. You may discover later that the other driver was equally or more to blame. In addition, immediately after an accident you will most likely be emotionally or physically upset to such an extent that you will be unable to accurately appraise the situation. There will be a time for explanations later. No one has the right to force you to give an opinion as to the cause of the accident, at police headquarters or elsewhere. You have the right to consult a lawyer before making a statement.

OBTAIN PROTECTIVE INFORMATION

After an accident it is a good idea to takes notes of your surroundings, weather conditions, before and after positions of the vehicles involved. Try to be as detailed as possible.

FILE ACCIDENT REPORTS

Notify your automobile insurance company immediately and cooperate with your insurance representatives in their investigation.

In addition, Illinois law requires you to file a written report of any accident in which you were involved which resulted either in the death or injury to any person and in most accidents where property damage occurred. Failure to file a report may cause you to lose your license. A report form may be obtained at any police station or sheriff's office. The place where the report should be filed appears on the form. The filing of the report should be within ten days after the accident.

DAMAGES

If you lose work, sustain injuries or have other losses, you may be entitled to reimbursement under your own policy of insurance if the conditions have been met. You may also be entitled to damages from the other party to the accident.

Awarding monetary damages is the law's method of putting the wrongfully injured party, as closely as possible, into a position equal to that position before he was injured. If you are in the right you may be entitled to recover money for the following:

• Nature, extent and duration of injuries.
• Pain and suffering from injuries.
• Disability, both temporary and permanent.
• Reasonable expenses resulting from injury, including medical and hospital expenses.
• Loss of income.
• Value of damage to property.

THE LAW REQUIRES INSURANCE

The motor vehicle law of Illinois now requires that all motor vehicles intended for use on public highways be covered by liability insurance. Certain vehicles are exempt from this requirement including inoperable or stored vehicles that are not operated. You must also have within the vehicle proof of insurance. Insurance companies issue insurance cards which comply with this requirement. The law allows the Secretary of State to request verification of insurance from you. Violations of this provision will result in significant financial penalties and may result in loss of driving privileges.

Before buying insurance make sure to follow these simple guidelines....

1. The most important part of your insurance policy is to protect you and your families assets, so NEVER settle for less coverage.

2. Always select an agent that you can trust, after all insurance is there to protect your lively hood. Every time you get into your vehicle, you could be one accident away from losing all that you have worked so hard to accomplish over the years.

3. Make sure your agent takes the time to fully go over your insurance policy with you. What good is paying for insurance if you have no idea as to what you are paying for.

4. You want to get the most protection (value) for your insurance dollar. If you were to go into a store looking for coffee, you would have 2 choices, you could purchase a 5lb can for $7.00 or a 10lb can for $10.00. Your insurance works the same way, so wouldn't it make sense to purchase the insurance that will provide you with more protection for your insurance dollar?

5. Choosing the right deductible is key, I know what you are thinking, "what if I get into an accident" then I would have to pay more out of my pocket. You right you would, however, lets look at this a different way. Lets say that you currently carry a $500.00 deductible which is costing you $130.00 every 6 months to carry. If you were to increase your deductible to $750.00 you would be saving $60.00 every 6 months. Over the years the savings would out weight the cost of holding the lower deductible. There are also ways that you could off set your deductible in which you would actually end up paying less that $500.00 while you are benefiting from saving money with the $750.00 deductible.

6. When selecting your insurance coverage the main thing to look at is your amount of coverages. If the price sounds too good to be true it just might be. If the agent isn't going to take the time to explain everything to you, who are they really looking out for?

7. When selecting an insurance company you want to go with one that you know has great service and will be there for you in time of need. There is nothing worse then being involved in an accident and then having to fight with the insurance company to pay out or even worse finding out that your insurance coverages are not enough to pay the amount that was awarded by the jury and now you are on the hook for the remaining amount of money owed.

For more information or for a FREE insurance consultation, please fill out the contact form and I will contact you with in 24 hours.