What To Do After An Automobile Accident
Go to a safe spot
The safest place for pedestrians is in an area with no cars or trucks moving at high speeds. This means staying away from busy roads with heavy truck traffic and areas where there are lots of people walking around.
Dial 911
If you have experienced a motor accident that resulted in an injury or death of another person, notify your local authorities immediately by calling 911.
Call your insurance company
Call your insurance company if it is not already on file at the time of the crash. Suppose there was no one else injured in the wreck. In that case, you may be able to claim personal injury protection benefits from your insurer without having to pay any out-of-pocket expenses for medical bills. If there are accident victims, you may avail of the accident claim.
Seek medical care
When the victim is injured or killed in an auto collision, it’s essential to get emergency treatment immediately after the incident. This includes getting checked out by a doctor at the scene, even if there are no visible injuries. The faster you seek medical help, the better chance you will have of receiving proper medical treatment.
If you have accident-related injuries, this might have long-term effects on you. Seek future care from auto injury physicians in Phoenix, AZ.
Gather your witnesses’ contact information
Suppose you can speak with witnesses after a motor vehicle accident. In that case, you must obtain their names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and any other pertinent information so that you can follow up on their statements later. It would be best if you can take notes during your conversation with these people. This will help you remember key points from the interview and provide an accurate record of the witness’ statement.
Record a video and take photos of the crash scene
If possible, record video footage from inside your vehicle using an in-car camera system. If not available, use your phone’s built-in camera app to capture still photos and videos that can be used later for evidence purposes. In addition, record any audio clips that may help reconstruct what happened during the accident.
Speak with an attorney
If you encounter an automobile collision, reach out to your lawyer immediately. Let them know about the incident and tell them about your insurance, medical, and financial situation to help them give you sound advice.
Auto Insurance Fault in Arizona
If you are at fault for causing another person’s injuries, you could be held liable for damages under Arizona’s No-Fault Auto Insurance Act. This means that even though you did nothing wrong, you still must pay compensation to injured parties. Your insurer cannot deny coverage because it believes you caused the accident; instead, it must compensate victims regardless of whether they sue you.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Phoenix
Nationwide: $936
State of AZ: $1,431
City of Phoenix: $1,430
County of Maricopa: $1,427
*Based on a 30-year old driver living in an area with 20 million licensed drivers, we have data from over 2 billion claims experiences.
**Actual rates charged by insurers during our analysis period rather than quoting hypothetical or estimated premiums.
The Best Car Insurance Companies in Phoenix
Phoenix has many different car insurance providers from which you can choose. Some of these include:
- Allstate: MoneyGeek score was 84 out of 100
- American Family: MoneyGeek score 83 out of 100
- Liberty Mutual: MoneyGeek score 82 out of 100
- Farmers: MoneyGeek score 80 out of 100
- Nationwide: MoneyGeek score 79 out of 100
- Progressive: MoneyGeek score 77 out of 100
What if the other driver does not have insurance?
If the other driver has no liability coverage, they could face serious consequences, including jail time and fines. However, even when there is no financial responsibility law applicable to the situation, you must still file a personal injury lawsuit against the motorist within two years after the date of the accident. This means that you cannot delay filing suit because you believe that the other person might eventually obtain Insurance.
What is the difference between Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverages?
Uninsured motorist coverage protects against injury caused by someone who has no insurance at all. It also covers injuries sustained when hit by a driver whose own insurance company denies payment because they were driving without enough money to pay their share of damages. This situation can occur when a driver’s credit rating is poor or doesn’t have sufficient funds to pay their premium.
What can I do if I have been declined for insurance coverage, or my policy has been canceled or nonrenewed, and it was unfair or in violation of the law?
If you believe that an insurer violated your rights, contact the Department of Insurance. They will review your claim and advise you on how best to proceed. If they determine that there is merit to your complaint, they will take appropriate action.
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