In most cases, being involved in a car accident throws victims into confusion and stressful moments. Victims often grapple with questions about their next steps, legal obligations, and how to protect their rights. One key concern is whether or not to provide insurance information to the other driver who caused the accident.
To be on the safe side, it is recommended that you work with a car accident attorney from Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz. Your lawyer will take up your legal claim and ensure timeliness and accuracy in every step. They will help protect your rights and push for fair and timely compensation for your losses.
Read on for answers to concerns regarding whether or not you have to give your insurance information if someone hits you.
What you do immediately after a car accident is very important. This is because they can greatly impact both your health and the outcome of any potential legal proceedings. Here is what you are supposed to do following a car crash:
The first step after a car crash is to ensure you and others involved are safe. Evaluate yourself and your passengers for observable injuries and request emergency assistance if there are serious injuries. Relocate your vehicle to a safe location to avoid further accidents.
Even if you feel fine, seeking a doctor’s evaluation is highly advisable. Some injuries will not show up immediately. Understandably, the adrenaline rush may mask some injuries, and you need to present yourself to a doctor for evaluation. Importantly, ensure that you follow through with the prescribed medication and treatments to ensure your health and well-being.
Call the police and report the accident immediately. This police report sets an official account of the crash which is useful for supporting your insurance claims and any potential legal proceedings. The report should include details about the incident, the parties involved, and witness statements, hence a critical piece of evidence.
Gather and preserve all evidence related to the incident as soon as you can. This includes photos of the scene, vehicle damage, and visible injuries. If there are witnesses, be sure to get their statements and obtain their contact information for further communication.
Call your insurance provider or the agency and inform them about the accident as soon as possible. Provide them with all relevant details and any evidence you have collected. This helps expedite the process as they will begin investigating the incident immediately.
Since the accident may have left you needing ongoing medical treatment, you need to consult with a car accident attorney to represent you in legal appearings. Your lawyer can explain your rights, handle all the legal processes, and represent your interests as you focus on healing.
In Ohio, drivers are legally required to exchange insurance information after an accident. You need to provide your insurance details to the other party. Usually, when police file an accident report, they ask for insurance information for both drivers regardless of who was at fault.
If you do not offer such information and leave the scene of the accident, it can result in serious consequences. Although the other driver is the one who hit you, they may argue that you caused the accident and fled the scene. Under Ohio law, hit and run is a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by a six-month driver’s license suspension, a fine of up to $1,000, and up to six months in jail.
In addition to insurance information, you should exchange the following details with the other driver:
Swapping pertinent information with the other driver after a car accident is very important because it helps establish clear lines of communication. This will enable you to send any other details needed for insurance, legal, and medical purposes.
If the other driver won’t share their insurance information, it is advisable to remain calm and not confront them aggressively. Instead, take the following steps:
Also, let your lawyer know that the other driver refused to give out the insurance information. They may request the available CCTV footage of the accident from nearby establishments such as shops or from transport and police authorities.
The law requires you to report any crash you are involved in. In Ohio, car crashes are to be reported to the police if they result in injury, death, or significant property damage worth over $1,000.
Reporting the accident is both an obligation and a crucial step to lay the basis for your insurance claim and potential legal actions. A lawyer can help request a copy of the crash report to help prove your claim and seek just compensation.
When it comes to finding out the liable party in a car accident, you may have to evaluate the facts of the case in relation to insurance coverage laws. In Ohio, for instance, fault is determined based on negligence, which basically denotes failure to exercise reasonable care. To be able to prove negligence in a car accident, you must show that these elements existed:
Proving fault is not always a straightforward process across car accident claims. Sometimes, disputes over fault could arise, or there may be several at-fault parties. Also, in cases where the injuries were severe or led to death, the burden to prove such claims significantly escalates.
A car accident attorney is very key in proving fault in whichever situation you find yourself in. Even if the other driver refused to provide insurance information and fled the scene, a lawyer can help you navigate the case.
In addition, your attorney will ensure that the law is followed to protect your interest. For instance, if you are partially at fault, they will ensure the comparative negligence rule is not applied to your disadvantage. Contact Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz, our legal team will see that fault is assigned rightly or even help minimize your liability and maximize compensation.
Before establishing Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A., Doug Mann, a top Ohio Injury Attorney served as a bodily injury claims adjuster at a major insurance firm. With over 40+ years of experience, Doug’s background has proven invaluable in securing maximum cash settlements for his clients swiftly. Since leaving the insurance industry, Doug has devoted his entire legal career to assisting injured clients during their times of greatest need.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Doug Mann who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury attorney.
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