After a crash that isn’t your fault in Massachusetts, you should notify the police, get medical treatment, gather evidence, tell your insurance company what happened, and reach out to a Boston car accident lawyer for assistance.
Taking these steps after a crash can improve your chances of getting maximum compensation for your losses. You don’t have to try to navigate the legal process on your own after a crash. Instead, you can get help from a personal injury law firm.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident That Wasn’t Your Fault?
After a crash that you didn’t cause in Massachusetts, you should:
Notify the Police
You should contact the police after any auto accident that results in vehicle damage or injuries, regardless of who caused the collision. Notifying the police can create an official record of what happened and allow them to file an accident report detailing when, where, and how the crash occurred.
Get Medical Care
Car accidents can result in catastrophic injuries. You should get immediate treatment for any injuries caused by the crash in order to improve your chances of making a recovery and to connect the injuries to the accident.
Gather Evidence from the Accident Scene
If your injuries allow, you should collect evidence from the scene of your crash. For example, you may need to:
- Take pictures of the injuries caused by the accident
- Get pictures of the damage to your vehicle
- Collect contact information from all eyewitnesses
- Write down what you remember about the crash
Gathering evidence can help you back up your story of events.
Inform Your Insurance Company of the Crash
You should provide basic information to your insurance company after a crash. Due to the strict no-fault laws in Massachusetts, you’ll likely receive funds to cover your losses from your insurance company, so they need to know what happened quickly.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
Finally, make sure that you reach out to a car accident lawyer for professional help. An attorney will work on your claim, track your losses, and give you the support you need after a crash while fighting to ensure you make a full financial recovery. A lawyer can also explain what to do after a car accident that’s not your fault.
How Will a Lawyer Help After a Crash That’s Not Your Fault?
After an accident caused by someone else, a personal injury attorney can:
- Go over your next steps
- Give you clear answers to all legal questions
- Gather evidence about the causes of the crash
- Keep accurate records of your losses
- Handle all communications with the insurance company
- Assist with a lawsuit if you qualify to sue the liable party
Having a lawyer on your side means you’ll always have someone looking out for your best interests, putting you first, and fighting tirelessly on your behalf.
How Do You Get Paid for an Accident That Wasn’t Your Fault?
Generally, the no-fault laws in Massachusetts mean you’ll get compensation for your medical bills and a percentage of your lost income from your insurance company after an accident, regardless of who caused the crash.
However, in some cases, you may have a chance to step outside the no-fault system to get additional compensation for your losses, including funds to cover your pain and suffering, mental anguish, or emotional distress.
A lawyer can review your situation and determine if you qualify to bring a claim directly against the driver who caused the crash.
How Do You Prove That an Accident Wasn’t Your Fault?
Proving that someone else caused your crash often requires gathering evidence from the crash scene and allowing your attorney to immediately investigate what happened. An attorney may need to:
- Visit the scene of your auto accident
- Take statements from eyewitnesses
- Get a copy of the official accident report
- Look for dashcam footage of the crash
- Work with accident reconstruction specialists
You can rely on your attorney to work diligently to build your claim and to keep records of all the losses you sustained. You do not have to attempt to navigate the legal system on your own. Instead, you can get professional support quickly after a head-on, rear-end, or side-impact collision caused by another driver.
Talk to Us After a Car Accident That Wasn’t Your Fault
So, what should you do after a car accident that wasn’t your fault in Massachusetts? You should tell the police, get treatment for your injuries, gather any evidence you can, tell your insurance company what happened, and reach out to our team at Earley Law Group.
We have over 25 years of combined legal experience, and we know what it takes to help injury victims in your situation. We can work fast to build your claim, and we’ll ensure that you fully understand all of your legal options.
Contact us now to begin the legal process.