Fender bender accidents involving vehicles maneuvering in and out of a congested space like a parking lot, or in a stream of traffic moving slowly, happen often. They can inflict damage to cars and injuries to drivers and their passengers.
Fortunately, most fender bender accidents are at low speeds, meaning that injuries tend to be less serious and the main financial losses incurred are due to the damage done to the vehicles that have been hit.
Whether it is repairing your auto or seeking medical treatment, both can be expensive. If the fender bender accident wasn’t your fault you should be eligible to seek compensation to help pay for any damages from any driver who hit your vehicle. You must ensure you have the evidence to prove the accident wasn’t your fault.
What Types of Damages Can I Collect?
You can claim all the damage done to your car, which includes the cost of repairs or the cost of replacement if the car is totaled. If you use your auto to commute to work, you should be able to claim for a car rental until your own auto is repaired and returned to you.
You can also claim the cost of medical treatment and lost wages for yourself and your passengers if you and they have been injured. This also includes an amount for pain and suffering which is often calculated as a multiple of the cost of your medical treatment such as a multiple of 2 or 3 times the total cost.
You may also be able to claim out of pocket expenses, such as a taxi to get to hospital for medical treatment if you are unable to drive yourself. Most PI lawyers do not require up-front fees, so your legal costs are calculated by the at-fault driver’s insurer and included in your claim.
Gather Information and Evidence Before Filing a PI Claim
Before starting the process of filing your PI and auto damage claim you should make sure you have all the evidence to prove who caused the accident. This can include any or all of the following:
- photos of the accident site and any vehicles involved;
- the manufacturer, model, license plate and insurance details of vehicles involved in the accident;
- video footage sourced from any nearby surveillance cameras;
- a copy of the attending police officer’s report, if there was one;
- checking for witnesses and obtaining their contact details or asking them to write a detailed report of their observations.
Contact a PI Lawyer
Filing a PI claim can be quite challenging, as it is difficult to get the at-fault driver’s insurer to agree to a favorable claim without conducting an investigation. If you contact a PI lawyer s/he knows how difficult it is to settle a claim and will relieve you of the burden by filing the claim on your behalf and persist until an acceptable settlement has been reached.
This gives you the peace of mind that the settlement will help to ensure you do not have to bear any financial hardship in an auto accident at a parking lot that was not your fault. The PI lawyer will make sure your PI claim is filed within the statute of limitations in force in your state.
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