Stoplights are in place to help maintain the flow of moving traffic while at the same time preventing accidents from happening. Sometimes drivers are distracted and don’t see the stoplight in front of them.
When it suddenly comes into view it is too close to stop in a safe manner so either the driver runs the stoplight or brakes suddenly in order to stop on time. If you are hit when a vehicle is out-of-control at a stop light, the chances are it is because the vehicle behind you has rear-ended you. This could result in all sorts of damage to your car and serious injuries to you as well.
1. Gather Evidence at the Accident Scene
As soon as you realize the accident wasn’t your fault, you will have to start to gather evidence while it is still fresh in your mind. The sorts of useful evidence could be any, or all, of the following:
- a police report compiled by the officer attending the accident;
- photographs taken of the vehicles involved in the accident;
- eye witness statements taken at the accident scene.
2. You Will Need a Medical Examination
If you were injured seriously like a broken leg or a damaged vertebra, you should seek medical treatment straightaway. While in the emergency room or hospital you should ensure you keep together all paid medical bills and your physician’s report that explains your injuries. Medical bills can be expensive but as long as you have the proof that the car didn’t stop at the stoplight and it was that which caused your injury, this will help in winning a successful personal injury claim.
3. You May Need Auto Repairs
Depending on the severity of your injuries and the damage to your car, you should try and get your vehicle to a mechanic so s/he can compile an estimate of the work that needs to be done. If you have already had some repairs done the cost should be covered by your personal injury claim but you will need to keep any receipts for work you have already paid for.
If you have been rear ended by the driver who didn’t give enough time to stop behind you at a stoplight, you may have the complete rear end of your car smashed including the rear windshield. This could be expensive to repair but you should get the damage paid for once you have won a successful PI claim.
4. Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
You may think that because you have gathered all the required evidence that the insurer of the at-fault driver will approve your PI claim. Unfortunately, insurance adjuster are never that generous so you should use a PI lawyer who is experienced with these sorts of claims will know how best to create a strong claim.
A lawyer will not only help you through the claims process but will also increase your chances of being successful which will save you a lot of time and worry in the long run.
5. File a Claim
By the time you are ready to contact a PI lawyer you should have enough evidence gathered to file a claim. Your lawyer can file the claim for you and ensure that it is done in the proper manner so that you get maximum compensation for the financial hardship caused in the accident that was not your fault.
