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What to do after a non-injury car accident

What To Do After A Non-Injury Car Accident

Nobody can deny that getting into an accident can be both scary and inconvenient. Even if it’s a non-injury car accident, the event can still be a pain to deal with. If you get behind a wheel, you run the risk of getting into a car accident. Even with precautions, nobody can completely protect themselves from getting into a wreck. 

In 2018, there were over 6.7 million police-reported car accidents in the United States alone. Of those accidents, less than one percent were fatal and 28 percent had injuries. That leaves 71 percent of reported crashes as non-injury car accidents. 

Because of the high risk of getting into one of these accidents, you should always remain prepared. Ybarra Maldonado Law Group recognizes these risks and wants you to stay informed. Here is what our Phoenix car accident lawyers say to do after a non-injury car accident.

What do I do if I Get in a Car Accident Without Injuries?

It is important to know what to do if you get into an accident of any kind, injured or not. The first thing to remember is not to panic. The best thing to do in these situations is to remain calm, at least until you know you are safe. If you get into an accident on a busy road, try to get out of the way of oncoming traffic. Do this as soon as possible.

If the accident occurs in a place where traffic is not an issue, leave your car exactly how it is. You’ll need to take pictures of the scene later to help your case. 

Once you exit your car, make sure any other vehicles involved are safely stopped. Then make sure that neither you nor anyone else has injuries of any kind. Even if you feel fine but there’s a slight possibility that you’re hurt, you should call for medical treatment immediately. They will check you out and make sure that there is no internal trauma. If there is a chance you’re hurt, you’ll want to know as soon as possible. Not only for your own safety, but because this can be helpful to your case. 

Inform the Arizona police of the accident. While you await their arrival, exchange the following information:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Contact Details
    • (Phone numbers, emails, etc.)
  • Driver’s License Number
  • License Plate Number
  • Insurance Information

Once you have this information, you should take pictures of the scene. Include the spot where the accident occurred as well as any damage done to your vehicle.

Should I Report a Non-Injury Car Accident?

You should always report a car accident, even if no injuries resulted from it. The first way to do this is to notify the police, as we mentioned before. This crash report will come in handy for your case. If there is no police report, insurance companies will try to use that to deny your claim.

There is a statute of limitations for the state of Arizona that limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit following an accident. We’ll get more into that later. 

The personal injury statute of limitations does not apply to insurance claims. If you plan to file a claim with either your own insurance or the other driver’s, you’ll want to do that soon. Insurance companies recommend you do this within a reasonable amount of time after the car accident. This generally means within a few days.    

Should I Have an Attorney After a Non-Injury Car Accident?

It is a common misconception that if no one received injuries, you don’t need a lawyer. We recommend that if there is any damage done to your vehicle, you get a lawyer involved.

In a non-injury car accident, you are still able to recover compensation. Having an experienced lawyer on your side will help ensure you get the money you deserve.

Oftentimes, insurance companies prefer it if you don’t have a lawyer. This is for several reasons. They may try to get you to settle for a lesser amount than what you should receive. Without a seasoned negotiator, they might talk you down. Insurance companies may also try to deny your claim altogether. To avoid these possibilities, have a member of our legal team represent you. 

Am I Still Able to Sue if I Wasn’t Injured in a Car Accident?

Whether you got injured or not, you can still file a lawsuit. This is when that statute of limitations we talked about earlier comes into play.

The state of Arizona limits you to a total of two years to file a lawsuit following a non-injury car accident. The same applies for wrongful death or injury lawsuits. Starting from the date of the accident, you’ll need to file that lawsuit within two years. Once the window of time has closed, it will be almost impossible to get any court to consider your case. If you decide to file a lawsuit instead of making a settlement, you must keep that in mind. 

Regardless of whether you are going through an insurance company or through the court, you should have an attorney. 

What is the Most I Can Get from a Non-Injury Car Accident?

Like any type of accident, injuries or not, it depends. An attorney will help you estimate the amount of damage done to your car. The cost of repair factors into your compensation.

He or she will also take into account any losses you experienced as a result of the accident. For example, if the damage to your car prevents you from returning to work, you can consider that an economic loss. 

If your attorney is able to prove that you lost income because of the wreck, you will be able to receive more money. 

The amount of money you are able to get depends on the quality of your lawyer. To make sure you receive the most possible compensation for your case, have Ybarra Maldonado Law Group represent you. 

Read Also: Average Settlement for Car Accident Back Injury

Contact Us at Ybarra Maldonado Law Group

If you experienced a non-injury car accident in the Phoenix area, let the professionals take care of you. Ybarra Maldonado Law Group offers exceptional services and representation you can trust. If you’re still not sold, take it from our clients. We offer free consultations. Call or text us at 602-910-4040 or visit us at our website.

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