Life Event: Automobile Accident 3

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Cars. As a society we are dependant on them not only for work and transportation but also recreation. We learn to drive and can be licensed a full two years before we can vote. Many families own multiple cars, sometimes even one per licensed driver. Everywhere we go we see them, use them, and yet many of us don't know what to do when something goes horribly wrong and we or our loved ones are involved in an accident. The good news is there are answers to your questions, just take a deep breath and read on.

Who Was Driving?

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• If you were the one behind the wheel, understand your responsibilities.
• If your child was the one behind the wheel, make sure you understand your potential liability for their accident.

Where Did the Accident Happen?

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• If the accident happened in a parking lot on private property click here for information you should know.

Who Else Was Involved?

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• If the driver of the other car was drunk, the bar where he was drinking may be liable to you under a Dram Shop law. Find out what the rules are in your area.
• Were the police in any way involved in the accident? If so, here's what you should know about government liability.
• Were you driving someone else's car? Click here to find out what you need to know.

Let's Talk Insurance

You need to understand your insurance policy. If you haven't already become familiar with it, now is the perfect time. Regardless of what happened the accident affected you or your family member and car and you're going to need to understand how insurance works in order to make sure everything is set right. Here are some of the things you'll want to know:

• For general information on how automobile insurance works, click here.
• Understand state insurance requirements for issuance of licenses.
• Know the different types of insurance such as collision, comprehensive, etc., and make sure you know what types of coverage you have.
• Determine whether you have no fault insurance.
• Know what your deductible is. This is the amount you will pay out of pocket for repairs before the insurance company will begin to pay. It works in a way very similar to medical insurance.
• If your insurance has lapsed, determine if your company allows you a window of opportunity to reinstate it after an accident.
• Know whether or not you have or need for the future a gap insurance policy.
• Understand how the insurance company will determine the value or the diminished value of your car. Click here for more information.
• Understand repair estimates for your car and how they impact the process.
• Understand liability. (Newsletter article 20_20041201_3 LIABILITY OF MOTOR VEHICLE OWNERS)
• Determine which insurance company is responsible if you were driving a rental car. Did you purchase insurance through the rental car company, or rely on your own insurance or that provided by a credit card that you made the purchase with? Regardless, understand how rental cars and insurance work.
• If the same insurance company insured both (or more than one) of the vehicles involved, know what that means for your claim and the process.
• Know your rights. Your insurance company has an obligation to deal with you in good faith. If you believe that they are not doing so and that they are actually dealing with you in bad faith, know your legal options and seek an attorney¿s advise if need be.
• Know the law regarding whether insurance proceeds must be used to repair the vehicle.
• If you still have general questions about car insurance and how it works, you can get many answers to frequently asked questions by clicking here.

Paperwork That You Should Be Aware Of

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• If the accident required the filling out of a police report (and most do) make sure you understand what was in that police report and how it will be used.
• Determine whether or not your losses are tax deductible. Were You or a Family Member Injured?
• Understand your rights in relation to personal injury.
• Know what you can recover for.
• Know how long you have to bring a claim for injuries resulting from the auto accident. Research the applicable statutes of limitation . What Else Should You Do?
• If your car was defective, you may have a product liability claim that you could make. For information on what you should do and what evidence you should hold onto, click here.
• For information on whether your insurance company is responsible for correcting substandard repairs, click here.
• If you were injured while driving a rental car, click here for more help and information.