According to carinsurance.com,  the average American should expect to get into a car Accident at least three or four times in their lifetime. The most common car accidents are fender benders. These are typically minor car accidents and even though there usually aren’t any serious injuries, the situation can quickly turn into a time-consuming, expensive nightmare.

You should immediately report the accident and take all the necessary steps needed to prove that the other driver was at fault. This way you’ll be able to save money and time.

If you are not able to establish fault you should consider contacting our New Bedford car accident lawyer to review your case. In this article, we are going to give you the steps that you should follow after getting into a fender bender accident.

Ensure your safety first. 

There’s a good chance that nobody is hurt in the accident but the situation can be frustrating and inconvenient. The best thing for you to do is to remain calm and take control of the situation. First, move your car to the side of the road and turn on your hazard lights. Take pictures of the car that hit you and make sure that you capture crucial information such as the license plate number.

Always make sure you call the police and don’t let the other driver talk you out of it. When the paramedics arrive at the scene of the accident, let them examine you for any injuries. Sometimes car accident victims can’t tell whether they are injured because they are in shock; only to later realize that their injuries are getting much worse. If there are no paramedics you should consider visiting the hospital as soon as possible. Refusing medical treatment good results in your claim being denied and also implies that your injuries were not caused by the accident.

Be careful what you say because it can be used against you. Don’t threaten the other driver don’t admit fault or say that you’re sorry for the accident. Saying any of these things will be taken as an admission of guilt and will be used to prove that you were at fault for the accident.

Notify the police and your insurer about the accident

You should report the accident to local police even if you believe you are at fault. If you live in a large metro area the police might not make their way to the scene of the accident if there are no injuries. However, it’s important to have an official record of the accident with the police to show that you reported it.

Your auto insurance policy probably obligates you to notify your insurer of an accident regardless of how minor it is. You do not want a situation whereby the other driver hires a New Bedford Car Accident Lawyer and they contact your insurance company to demand compensation. Not only will your insurer be unprepared but they might not defend you if a lawsuit is filed against you. Your insurance company is obligated to defend you if someone files a car accident lawsuit against you but they might not do this if they learn about the accident from someone else.

• Why You Should Notify Your Insurer of Your Accident Even if the Other Driver is at Fault

Gather evidence to support your car accident  claim

This is the evidence that you should collect:

•  The driver’s information. You should get the full name, contact information, and contact details of their insurance company.
• Get the car information such as the year, model, make, and color. You should also capture their license plate number and write down any damages that you see on the car.
• Take pictures and videos. Take photographs of the accident, the point of impact, and any items that you see in the car. If there are open bottles of alcohol inside their car, make sure you give the police this information.
• Record witness statements. Witness testimony will help your insurance company to defend you if the at-fault party tries to make an exaggerated injury claim or tries to defraud you.
• Get a police report. 
• How to Gather Evidence For an Injury Claim Against a Drunk Driver

File a car accident claim

You won’t need to hire a car accident lawyer in New Bedford to help you with your car accident claim if you are involved in a fender bender and there were no serious injuries. This is a claim that you can handle directly with your insurance company. However, if you suffered a serious injury, you should consider hiring a lawyer to help you with your claim. To talk to any one of our lawyers, contact us at 508-999-0800 to schedule your free initial consultation.