Car Accidents - Questions & Answers

What should I do if I am involved in an automobile crash?

Always insist that the crash be reported to law enforcement so that a law enforcement officer can complete the appropriate forms. At least once a week/month, our office receives calls from injured accident victims who did not call the police because they felt bad for the at fault driver or they were in a rush.  This will greatly reduce the value of your personal injury claim because often times the negligent party will change their story unfavorably to what really happened.

We advise you not to negotiate a payment agreement with the other parties to settle damages. Doing it on your own without a crash report from a law enforcement officer could result in your not being fully compensated for damages and can expose you to personal liability since no official report of the crash exists and circumstances become your word against theirs. Our department will be unable to assist you if there is no crash report filled out by a law enforcement officer. Other suggestions include:

• Make sure the investigating officer records complete insurance information on the crash report.
• Report the crash to your insurance company immediately or within the time specified by your policy.
• If you determine that the other party is insured or uninsured, you should report the information to your insurance company so that they can pursue compensation since they have more information resources at their disposal.
• Never personally confront an at-fault party with demands as you may be dealing with a violent person. Allow your insurance company to handle that.