The Legal Side of Car Accidents: What You Need to Know

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Car accidents happen at the most unexpected times, no matter how hard you try to avoid them. And, since there are so many types of car accidents out there, we often don’t know what steps we need to take in each situation. What exactly do you do if you cause damage to someone else’s vehicle? Are there legal aspects to both vehicle and medical damages? These are all important questions to consider, so we’re going to break it down for you by talking about a few important things you need to know about the legal side of car accidents.

What if your car is damaged?

While some car accidents may have little to no impact on your car, the chances are pretty high that your car sustained some form of damage during the accident. This can be something relatively small, like a cracked windshield that needs to be repaired, or it can be much more serious, such as your car being completely wrecked. You generally have a few options when it comes to car damage after an accident. You can leave it as is or pay for the repairs yourself – neither of which are ideal options. Or you can put in a claim. You can either claim from your own car insurance or put in a claim against someone else if they are responsible. Keep in mind that there are procedures to follow to make sure these claims are legal. You may also be wondering, “How long after a car accident can you file a claim?”, and the truth is that there are a variety of different factors that will determine this.

What if someone else’s car is damaged?

It’s stressful enough to try and deal with your own car’s damage, but if you weren’t the only one involved in the accident, you may need to deal with the other person’s damaged car as well. If the accident was their fault and you can prove it, you can wash your hands of responsibility; they need to sort it out themselves. Likewise, if the accident was no one’s fault, you’re each responsible for your own damage. If, however, the accident was your fault, you may be responsible for paying for their damage. Hopefully, your car insurance will cover this. The accident will be your fault if you do something irresponsible that causes the accident, such as driving over a red light, or if you’re knowingly driving an unsafe car, such as an older car that isn’t roadworthy.

The medical aspects

Similarly to car damage, the responsible party will likely be liable for their own as well as the others’ medical bills. This means that you could put in a claim to make the other person cover your medical expenses, or you may be responsible for your fees. Depending on the severity of the injuries, it may be very expensive, which is why it’s always a good idea to have health insurance – being uninsured has a lot of risks.