Most drivers understand the processes they should follow after a major vehicle collision, but it is not always obvious what to do after a minor car accident. If you experience a fender bender or other small-scale crash, you might not know if you should take action or not. Knowing what to do in a minor car accident will help you make the best decisions in a confusing situation.
What Should You Do in a Minor Car Accident in Arizona?
Arizona follows the policy of comparative negligence for all car accidents, including minor collisions. This means that the amount of compensation you can receive for an accident will decrease proportionate to your degree of fault. Even minor car accidents can cause significant damage, so it is important to follow the correct steps and protect your right to an adequate claim.
The first things to do after a minor car accident are:
- Check yourself and others for injuries
- Move to a safe location away from traffic
- Call 911 to report the accident and seek medical attention
- Exchange information with other drivers and witnesses involved
- Document the accident with photos or video
Never simply leave the scene of an accident, even if it seems like there was no damage. If damage does come to light later, you could be accused of a hit-and-run. Instead, you should wait at the scene until police responders arrive. Contact your car accident attorney and prepare to notify the insurance company as soon as possible.
Do You Have To Call the Police for a Fender Bender?
In most cases, there is no legal requirement to call the police for a fender bender in Arizona. It is only mandatory to report the accident if there is significant property damage or if a person sustains an injury.
However, you cannot know for certain that no one sustained an injury and that neither vehicle incurred serious damage. It is always best to contact the police and remain on the scene until they finish investigating the crash. This will generate an accident report that could serve as valuable evidence and will protect you from facing possible hit-and-run charges later.
What Do You Say After a Minor Accident?
After an accident, it is important to avoid saying anything that could be an admission of guilt. It may seem harmless and polite to apologize for bumping into the other person’s vehicle, for example, but this could be to your detriment if it turns out that either vehicle sustained damage. Admitting your guilt could mean losing your right to compensation if your vehicle requires repairs after the fender bender.
What you should do after a minor car accident is stick to the facts when speaking to the police and be straightforward when exchanging information with other drivers. Maintain a helpful and cooperative attitude, but be mindful of what you say and avoid speculating about fault.
What Information Should You Exchange With the Other Driver?
Understandably, each person involved in a minor car accident might be in a hurry to complete the process as fast as possible. The other driver might not think that exchanging information is a big deal when the damage is minimal or seemingly non-existent. However, it is important to completely exchange all relevant information.
The information you should exchange with other drivers after an accident includes the following:
- Full name and address
- Phone numbers
- Insurance information, including policy numbers
- Vehicle make and model
- Driver’s license and license plate numbers
If there are any witnesses on the scene who saw the accident unfold, request their contact information as well. However, be sure to respect these third-party witnesses if they choose to maintain their privacy. After the police arrive at the crash scene, get the name and badge number of the investigating officer so you can quickly access the police report later.
Can You Get Compensation for a Minor Car Accident?
You can pursue compensation for any damages you sustain from a minor car accident. Even a mild fender bender has the potential to cause personal injury or serious property damage. That is why it is so important to document the accident and report it to the police even if the collision seems insignificant.
The average settlement for a minor car accident tends to be in the range of $5,000 to $12,000. This illustrates the likelihood for any crash, even a minor bumper tap, to have life-changing implications. Keep in mind that the circumstances of each accident are different, so the amount of damages you can recover may vary.
If you have a minor car accident involving another driver, you can file a claim against their insurance provider. Arizona’s comparative negligence rule will affect the amount of compensation owed to you based on each party’s degree of fault. It is important to document the accident and work with your personal injury attorney to prove that the other driver is liable for your damages.
How Does Insurance Work After a Minor Car Accident?
Arizona is an at-fault state in the context of car accident settlements. This means that the law will always consider at least one driver to be at fault for any crash. If another driver shares even a fraction of the fault for your minor car accident, you are eligible for compensation from that driver’s insurance company.
If the other driver does not have the legally required liability coverage on their insurance policy, you can file a claim with your own insurance company if you have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. You can use your policy’s collision coverage to pay for repairs and damages if you experience a single-vehicle car accident.
You should always notify your insurance provider, even for a minor car accident. Do this even if there is no apparent damage from the accident and even if you do not currently intend to file a claim. Neglecting to notify your insurance company may cause complications should any driver decide to pursue a claim for the accident later.
How Do You File an Insurance Claim After a Minor Car Accident?
The process of filing an insurance claim for a minor car accident is the same as with any other accident. There are no differences in the process based on the severity, or lack thereof, of your accident.
Start by contacting your insurance provider over the phone or online. Provide details regarding the accident and include any documentation you might have, including photos of the damage or crash scene. It is important to only stick to the facts during this process and avoid admitting guilt for the crash. Consider consulting with your car accident lawyer ahead of time for guidance on how to speak to insurance adjusters.
What Should You Do After an Accident Involving a Single Vehicle?
Knowing what to do after a minor car accident involving a single vehicle can save you a great deal of time and money. It is very easy to experience an accident in which you lose control of your vehicle and collide with a guardrail, raised curb or other obstacle on the side of the road. If this happens, you do not necessarily have to pay for the damage out of your own pocket.
The process you should follow after a single-vehicle collision is the same as with any other minor car accident. Verify your own well-being and definitely contact the police if there is notable damage to property that does not belong to you. Be sure to move to a safe location and call for roadside assistance if necessary.
You can likely receive coverage for your damages if you have collision insurance as part of your auto policy. Collision coverage pays for necessary repairs or replacements after a collision with a stationary object. In some cases, you can receive payments through your collision coverage even if you experience a minor car accident involving another vehicle.
What Should You Do After a Hit-and-Run?
As with any type of accident, the top priority after a hit-and-run is to report the accident to the police and your insurance company. Hit-and-runs are unfortunately common after minor car accidents, as the offenders might assume that the affected motorist will not bother taking action. If your vehicle sustains damage, though, it is important to follow proper steps to recover compensation.
If you happen to see the vehicle that caused the accident, try to remember as many details as possible. These might include the make, model or color of the vehicle, as well as license plate information.
Even if you do not see the hit-and-run offender, you still have options for pursuing compensation. Your car accident attorney can work with police investigators to track down the person responsible for your damages. It will then be possible to file a claim for your damages, as well as additional compensation for the hit-and-run offense.
You can file a claim against your own collision coverage on your auto insurance policy after a hit-and-run. There is typically no need to wait for an investigation to find the driver responsible for your minor car accident. This ensures that you have quick access to the compensation you need to return to normalcy after the incident.
What if You Stand Accused of a Hit-and-Run?
If someone else accuses you of a hit-and-run after a minor car accident, it is important to not panic. While it is important to remain on the scene of a crash even after a minor collision, the decision to leave can be an honest mistake. Your legal team can help you prove that it was a simple lapse in judgment with no malicious intent.
Arizona’s pure comparative negligence rule makes it possible for you to recover some compensation for the damages you incur in an accident, even if you are mostly at fault. That means that even if the other party is at least 1% at fault, you may be able to receive some compensation. It may also be possible to receive coverage from your own insurance provider in these cases. You might forfeit these avenues of compensation if you commit a hit-and-run, though, so you should always report a collision and remain at the scene even if the situation seems insignificant.
How Can a Lawyer Help You After a Minor Car Accident?
A car accident lawyer can help you determine the best course of action after a minor collision. You should get a lawyer for any car accident, as this ensures you will have the guidance you need to know what to do after a minor car accident. Mild crashes can cause serious damage, even if it is not immediately apparent, so it is important to follow proper procedures every step of the way.
Our Phoenix car accident attorneys at Sargon Law Group can help you by:
- Investigating the cause of your minor car accident
- Collecting evidence that may serve to establish the other party’s fault
- Evaluating the extent of your damages to determine what your claim might be worth
- Handling paperwork and organizing relevant documents
- Negotiating with insurance providers on your behalf
It is natural to feel a sense of shock or overwhelming stress after an accident, even if it is a minor collision. You deserve the opportunity to focus on resting, recovering and resuming your daily life. Our team of personal injury attorneys can handle the legal complexities of your case while you enjoy peace of mind.
Contact a Lawyer for Your Minor Car Accident in Arizona
Involving a Phoenix, AZ injury lawyer in your minor car accident case early on in the process can help prevent many of the complications that can arise if it becomes necessary to file a claim. The attorneys at Sargon Law Group are ready to assist at every step of the process, from investigating your minor car accident to negotiating a satisfactory settlement with the insurance company.
We proudly help drivers in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico decide what to do after a minor car accident. Contact us today for a free consultation and to discuss how we can help you achieve a favorable outcome.