I was involved in a bad car accident today, what should I expect next?

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   peeplesposted 11 years ago

   I was involved in a bad car accident today, what should I expect next?
   
   I was turning at an intersection this morning and someone ran their light and t boned my car. It is totaled. I am being told to call the other person's insurance company and honestly I am not comfortable with that. I also had to be seen at the hospital, have had to pay for some expensive medication, and will have to buy a new car because the insurance is only going to pay off my existing loan balance. So what should I expect with this. I have never been in a car accident.

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   windygreenposted 11 years ago

   within hours ,, or days at the most ,,, expect a call from the other persons insurance company..... expect them to offer you a settlement amount .... dont take it !!!!!!!!
   
   call a lawyer .... although they will get some of your final settlement, they will ensure that you are completely compensated for your loss and pain n suffering

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      peeplesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks windy. May have to call a lawyer. I am ignorant when it comes to all this. Never had an accident before and I just don't know what to do.

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   xanzacowposted 11 years ago

   I am just glad you are okay. Well, at least not hurt as bad as you could have been. I hope your injuries are minor. Sorry about your car. Ditto what windygreen said.

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      peeplesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks. I thought they were more minor yesterday. Today I ache. Hoping it's short term aching!

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   lupineposted 11 years ago

   Sounds like you already spoke to insurance. Find out exactly what is covered...any medical? You need to remember exactly what happened because you willl be asked several times before this is over. Call your own insurance back and ask if they will be calling the other driver's insurance to report this, or do you need to do it. Write everything down right away, if you think of something else be sure to add it. Did the other person show you their license, was it valid? Any witnesses, get names, telephone numbers. This could take a while so be patient. Glad you are ok now, but you may be very sore later tonight or tomorrow.

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      peeplesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I spoke with my insurance and they told me they'd start the claim but that I needed to call the other person's insurance. I do have the other persons insurance info from the police report and a witness info. Just don't know what to do with the info.

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   jonnycomelatelyposted 11 years ago

   peeples, so sorry to hear about your accident, but you did a wise thing bringing it this forum...... get it off your chest, for one thing, and of course some well-earned moral support from your friends here.
   I can off any practical suggestions beyond this, but wishing you well and a speedy recovery (medically, and financially).

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      peeplesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you Jonny!

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   BLACKANDGOLDJACKposted 11 years ago

   Your insurance company will pay for your car minus the deductible and then collect that money from the other driver's insurance company if that driver was clearly at-fault. If so, you will get your deductible back.
   
   Did you get a rental? You are entitled to one if the other driver is clearly at-fault or you have that coverage under your own policy.
   
   Now as far as the medical goes, it depends on what state you live in. In PA where I live the medical bills are paid for by your own insurance company, and you can only sue for pain and suffering under certain circumstances. It varies from state to state.
   
   I hope you have witnesses, etc., establishing that you were not at-fault.

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      peeplesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      We lucked up. We had a witness and cameras that show fault. I have no idea about state laws for medical but I do know the hospital said I needed to submit a form with the other person's info to the hospital. Thanks!

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      BLACKANDGOLDJACKposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You shouldn't have any problem then. I don't see why you should be calling the other person's insurance company. Once the claim is in the hands of adjustors from both companies, they should take care of most everything. That's what they get paid for.

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   MizBejabbersposted 11 years ago

   A couple of folks have given you some very good advice. I wish I had known some of the things when I was 23, especially about not taking a settlement. One thing I don't understand, though, is why your insurance company is telling you to call the opposing company. That is their job. One thing I want to warn you about is that the settlements are so slow that you may have to call upon your own hospitalization policy to pay your medical bills and then subrogate (get the money back from the other driver's insurance). This happened to me when I was in a city bus rollover in 2006. One problem I ran into was that the hospital refused to accept the insurance payment from my insurance co. because it would be discounted since they were on my HMO. The hospital and the insurance co. were owned by the same corporation, but the insurance co. had the check cut and ready. The problem was strictly with the hospital. I did have to get a lawyer, and the hospital ended up eating the bill. Good luck to you and I hope you don't suffer any permanent damage from your injury.

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      peeplesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you MizBejabbers!

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   LongTimeMotherposted 11 years ago

   My suggestion is to buy a lottery ticket. You were in what sounds like a very serious accident, yet you are up and about and able to think clearly about what the future holds. I'd be celebrating having a future, and buying a ticket to hopefully help finance the new car. Unlucky to have an accident ... extremely lucky to survive it.
   
   I'll cross my fingers that your lucky streak continues and you win.

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      peeplesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Very Lucky indeed! Could have been much worse!

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   adorablebabyposted 11 years ago

   expect large sum of bills and frustrating phone calls

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    ahorsebackposted 11 years ago

    Hi Peeps Sweety

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