Driver negligence causes most car accidents. The person responsible for causing the wreck must pay damages to other people involved. However, you could be involved in a car accident and no one admits fault.
If this happens to you, don’t worry. An experienced Phoenix car accident attorney at Sargon Law Group can still assist you in filing a claim for compensation.
Do You Know What To Do if You Are in a Car Accident and No One Admits Fault?
Sometimes it’s easy to determine who is at fault in a car accident. At other times, deciding who is responsible can be difficult. Attorneys recommend that you don’t claim any degree of fault for a collision, and many drivers follow that advice. If no one claims responsibility for causing a crash, those involved still have options for obtaining compensation for their damages.
Arizona is an at-fault state where car accident liability is concerned. For collisions occurring in this state, you have three avenues for requesting compensation.
Your Insurance Company
You can file a claim with your own insurance provider. After investigation, if they believe that another driver caused the accident, they will seek compensation from that person’s insurance company.
Other Driver’s Insurance Company
Another option is to file a claim against another driver’s insurance policy. That company will investigate the case’s facts to determine if their policyholder did have a degree of responsibility for causing the accident.
If you choose to take this route, don’t make any statements to the company. Instead, let your car accident attorney handle all communications with them. If you’re in a car accident and no one admits fault, insurance companies point fingers at other drivers, hoping to avoid paying claims.
Personal Injury Lawsuit
If necessary, you can file a personal injury lawsuit. Your attorney will aggressively negotiate with insurance companies to obtain maximum compensation for you. Still, it sometimes takes a lawsuit to force insurance providers to pay fair compensation for your damages.
If a defective vehicle caused your accident, you might be able to sue the manufacturer. Ask your attorney if this applies to your case.
What Is Pure Comparative Fault?
Arizona car accident cases use pure comparative fault to determine who pays for damages and how much they pay. More than one driver often shares responsibility for causing the accident or the injuries sustained.
Pure comparative fault assigns a percentage to the amount of responsibility each driver has. If you are 20% at fault for a collision, the total compensation you might receive is reduced by 20%.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident?
There are several things you should do if you have a car wreck.
Get Out of Traffic
If you’re able to drive your vehicle after a crash, you should move it out of traffic. Be sure that you’re all the way onto the shoulder of the road to avoid the risk of further collisions.
Assist Others
Several people might sustain injuries in a car wreck. Try to assist injured persons in your vehicle and others if you’re able. At the very least, you’ll be able to report the kinds of injuries involved to the police so they can send the correct number of appropriate first responders.
Call 911
Don’t assume someone else has already called the police to report the collision. Call them yourself and give as much information as possible, including how many cars are involved, the kinds of injuries present, and if crashed vehicles are still in traffic lanes.
Police officers make official reports about your accident. Your attorney will use a copy of this report during their investigation.
Use Your Phone
Your smartphone is an invaluable tool after a car wreck. You should use it to:
- Take photos and videos of the accident scene, including injuries, vehicle damage, vehicle placement, skid marks, weather and road conditions, the time of day, and any other details that can later help investigators.
- Record witness statements and your recollection of the events leading up to the crash. Witness statements can provide crucial evidence if you are in a car accident and no one admits fault.
- Note contact information for other drivers, witnesses, and responding police officers.
Accept or Seek Medical Attention
Even if you don’t think you have severe injuries, allow medical personnel at the accident scene to examine you. If none are dispatched, visit a health care professional immediately after you leave. These providers can find injuries that aren’t apparent, which could save your life.
In addition, their examination provides a baseline for your physical condition immediately after the collision. This can be an essential element of your personal injury claim.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
Although you probably have two years to file a claim, waiting doesn’t make sense. Your lawyer can help you through the crucial initial steps you must take after a collision. They also provide important advice about how you should proceed with a claim.
After time passes, some evidence may disappear, or witness accounts become hazy and less accurate. Hiring a Glendale, AZ car accident attorney immediately allows them to gather vital evidence while it’s still available.
Can Sargon Law Group Help if You Are in a Car Accident and No One Admits Fault?
Absolutely. Sargon Law Group’s team of Phoenix personal injury attorneys know how to handle cases if you are in a car accident and no one admits fault. We can help you choose the best option and competently negotiate insurance settlements on your behalf. We will also gather evidence to show that you aren’t responsible for the collision and that other drivers were. Some of the ways we do this include:
- Requesting copies of other drivers’ cell phone records to show that they were using their phones at the time of the wreck
- Scouring the responsible party’s social media posts to see if there is any mention of fault
- Obtaining copies of any video surveillance that captured the collision as it happened
- Thoroughly questioning witnesses
We work on a contingency fee basis. That means you won’t pay us any upfront fees; you’ll only pay us a percentage of the compensation we obtain for you.
Sargon Law Group focuses on providing transparency, trust, and prompt, meaningful communication with all of our clients. Request a free consultation 24/7 by calling (623) 225-5635. You can also submit our online request form. We’re waiting to help.