What exactly is a fender bender? If you drive often, you've probably had a fender bender in some form or another.
A fender bender is a small collision between two automobiles. What defines a "minor” event is debatable, but traditionally, accidents such as being rear-ended at moderate speeds, being bumped by an inattentive driver, or gently bumping into a vehicle when parking might be characterized as fender benders.
Despite its insignificance, a fender incident may create big issues if not handled appropriately. Below, we'll go through exactly what a fender bender is and what to do in the event of one.
What To Do After a Small Fender Bender?
Get Out of Congestion
If feasible, drive your automobile to the emergency lane, a neighboring parking lot, or anywhere else where traffic may continue to flow normally. In collisions involving vehicles or property damage, Florida Statute 316.061 requires this. The halt must be conducted without causing undue obstruction to traffic.
Swap contact information
With the other driver, exchange complete names, contact information, and car information. If they ask for your driver's license, display it to them and request the same. Take note of the other driver's vehicle's make and model, as well as the color. This will safeguard both of you in the event that either of you has to submit a claim. Additionally, if any witnesses are willing to help, get their complete names and contact information.
Take Photographs
When there is litigation, it may turn into a game of your word vs. theirs. Pictures and videos are the finest ways to convey information—as long as they are validated beforehand, which a lawyer can accomplish. Take photographs of any car damage, street signs, junctions, traffic signs, license plates, driver's licenses, and anything else that may be significant to the case, such as road or weather conditions or injuries, if any.
Make No Admissions
For example, if you were distracted by a phone notification and took your eyes off the road for a single second, you should not share that information with the other motorist. You should only exchange names and contact information with the other driver.
Speak with an attorney first if you are positive that the accident was your fault. If you were the only cause of the collision, your insurance company may make a settlement offer to pay the other driver's damages, and you can rest easy.
Florida, on the other hand, is a comparative negligence state. This implies that if the other motorist is also at fault, the amount they may collect from you will be reduced by their share of culpability. The same thing applies if they were mainly at fault but you had a tiny part in the accident. By refusing to confess blame at the scene, you may help guarantee that your rights are properly protected based on the facts of the case.
Consult a Doctor
Even with a minor collision, it is possible to get delayed-onset injuries or even internal injuries and remain unaware. Because adrenaline numbs your body to pain, you may not detect it at first. However, delaying medical treatment might harm your situation in various ways. First, regardless of who was at fault, Florida law requires all automobile insurance coverage to pay up to $10,000 in medical expenses.
However, you must make such a claim within 14 days following the accident. Furthermore, the longer you wait, the more likely it is that the other person will blame the ailment on anything else, such as exercise or their job.
Do Not Contact the Insurance Company of the Other Driver
In an automobile accident case, the opposing party is not the other driver but their insurance company. They will assign an adjuster to your case, and if you do not have your own lawyer, they will contact you directly. Whatever they appear to be nice or reasonable about, their duty is to minimize their client's responsibility.
And the only way to do this is to blame you for the accident. They may use your own words against you to do this. You can avoid this problem by telling them you will get a lawyer and that they can talk to them directly.
How Much Does a Small Fender Bender Cost Usually
This is a difficult question to answer. Automobile accidents may cost drivers a lot of money, yet there are certain Florida car accidents that cause relatively little damage. A fender collision may cost $100 or $500 to repair. Many of these incidents go unreported since the cost is modest, in order to avoid higher insurance costs.
In actuality, even so-called small incidents may result in significant losses and expenditures. Even if you have been paying premiums for years, your insurance provider may not cover the whole amount. You should think carefully about whether you need to talk to a Fort Walton Beach car accident lawyer after your accident. Costs in the long term can include:
- Car repair or replacement costs
- Personal property damage
- Legal costs.
- Financing costs.
- Medical bills.
- Lost time at work.
- Future medical costs.
- Lost employment opportunitie.
- At-home costs.
Take the time to total up your injuries before dismissing them as insignificant and a vehicle accident as not severe enough to need an attorney. If you are having difficulty obtaining fair compensation or believe you are entitled to more compensation, call Browning Law now for a free consultation with a Fort Walton Beach Florida car accident attorney.
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