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Minor Car Accident Claims: How to Handle a Fender Bender

Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran

When imagining a car accident, you might envision a catastrophic event involving wrecked cars and several fatalities. However, not all accidents are severe. Minor collisions, often referred to as fender benders, can also lead to significant property damage and injuries.

Michigan had 293,341 motor vehicle collisions in 2022, with over 70,000 injuries. The state lists 241,222 police-reported property damage accidents that same year, showing the prevalence of these types of incidents.

Knowing how to handle a fender bender can protect your right to compensation and help you get medical care for any injuries you incur. Our qualified team of auto accident lawyers at Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. will guide you through the claims process and help you get a fair settlement no matter the severity of the crash.

Causes of Auto Accidents

Minor car accidents can happen for several reasons. Typically, they occur when motorists travel at slower speeds and involve two vehicles rather than multiple cars or trucks. Here are some causes of fender benders in Michigan:

  • Distracted driving. This occurs when drivers are not paying attention to the road, often due to using cell phones, eating, or adjusting the radio.
  • Poor weather conditions. Snow, ice, and rain can make roads slippery and reduce visibility, leading to accidents. Road conditions led to 293,341 crashes in 2022.
  • Tailgating. Following too closely behind another vehicle leaves less time to react if the car in front suddenly stops. In 2022, there were 64,220 rear-end accidents in Michigan.
  • Failure to yield. Drivers who fail to give the right of way at intersections or do not adhere to yield signs can cause collisions. This behavior led to 44,481 accidents in Michigan in 2022.
  • Low-speed collisions in parking lots. These accidents often happen because of tight spaces and limited visibility, making it easy to bump into other vehicles or objects.

Things to do After a Fender Bender

After a collision in Michigan, you have a right to seek compensation for any car accident injuries, such as whiplash, broken bones, or head trauma. This can be through your personal injury protection coverage or a third-party insurance claim for property damage, excess medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Knowing how to handle a fender bender ensures you take the right steps to protect your health and your right to compensation. Here’s what to do:

Safety First Every Time

Your first step after any car accident is to protect the safety of yourself and other road users. Between 2014 and 2018, 10% of pedestrian fatalities in Michigan were due to a roadside emergency.

After a crash, remain inside your vehicle with your seatbelt fastened and move the car to a safer location, like the shoulder or a nearby exit. If your vehicle is immobilized or out of fuel, keep it in park, activate emergency flashers, and await roadside assistance or emergency responders while inside your car.

If exiting your vehicle is necessary, position yourself with the vehicle between you and oncoming traffic and wait for emergency personnel to arrive.

Call the Police or 911

Report the accident by calling 911 to get emergency services and police to the scene quickly. This step ensures prompt medical help for anyone hurt and helps with accident site management. It also starts the report process needed for insurance and legal reasons. In Michigan, you must report accidents with injuries, deaths, or over $1,000 in damage.

Stay Calm

Stay calm after a car accident. Anything you say can be used by insurance companies to potentially reduce or deny your compensation. Avoid admitting fault or making offhand remarks like “I didn’t see them” or “I was distracted.” These statements can hurt your claim.

Staying calm helps you communicate effectively and avoid comments that could negatively impact your recovery award. Focus on gathering evidence and sharing necessary information without discussing who was at fault.

Medical attention

Get Medical Help for Your Injuries

After a fender bender, prioritize seeking medical help, even if you feel unharmed. Injuries such as whiplash may not show immediate symptoms but can result in lasting damage if ignored.

Medical professionals can assess and diagnose any potential injuries early, ensuring you receive the necessary treatment to prevent long-term effects. This step also protects your right to compensation.

Your personal injury attorney from Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. can use your medical records to connect the injury to the crash. Our legal team includes Eileen Kroll, a senior partner lawyer and registered nurse, who can also review your records to estimate the full extent of their impact on your life for maximum compensation.

Collect All Necessary Information

Gather all necessary information for insurance claims and potential legal needs after a collision. This should include the following:

  • Exchange information with the other driver and witnesses, such as their contact information, phone numbers, and emails.
  • Insurance details of all drivers involved.
  • Photographic and video evidence of the scene, including damage to all vehicles, license plates, road conditions, property damage, and other relevant factors.
  • Police report details, including the names of attending officers. While the report itself may take time to acquire, having these details will be crucial for insurance claims.

What’s in the Police Report?

A police report is an essential document for your car accident case. It is an unbiased official record that can impact the outcome of insurance claims and legal disputes. The report provides an authoritative perspective on the incident, helping establish facts, determine liability, and support your case in potential legal actions.

Police reports typically include:

  • Date, time, and location of the accident
  • Descriptions of the vehicles involved
  • Statements from drivers, passengers, and witnesses
  • Observations and conclusions of the responding officer
  • Details of any citations issued
  • The officer’s determination of fault

Call Your Insurance Provider

To handle a fender bender effectively, contact your insurance company immediately after the crash. This starts the claims process and guides your next steps. Be ready to provide a rundown of what happened, share any evidence, like photos or videos from the scene, and give them the police report number.

They’ll walk you through what to do next, such as filling out claim forms or getting your car to a repair shop. Acting fast helps initiate a claim investigation and gets you the coverage you are entitled to under your policy.

Speak with a Personal Injury Lawyer

After a fender bender, especially if you’ve sustained injuries, consult with a personal injury lawyer. Our legal professionals at Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. can provide invaluable advice on your rights and the best course of action to ensure you’re compensated fairly for any damages or injuries.

We can handle all communication and negotiation with insurance companies. If necessary, we will represent you in court to secure the compensation you deserve.

Protect Your Rights After a Minor Car Accident

At Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C., we have dealt with all levels of car accidents, from minor fender benders to major highway pile-ups. If you need help with filing an insurance claim, we can help.

We’ll use our experience to estimate the full damages you’re entitled to, including medical bills, future treatment costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Connect with us for a free consultation and guidance on how to handle a fender bender to protect your interests.

Our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you to get started. Call our law firm today at 1-866-MICH-LAW  and schedule your no-obligation, free case evaluation.

Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.

Steve is a former criminal justice worker. With degrees in psychology and social work, he spent most of his life helping those with addiction issues before switching to criminal justice. He was responsible for writing court reports and advising judges on sentencing. He also supervised offenders, including sex offenders, in the community and carried out risk assessments and probation appraisals. He now lives in SE Asia and is working on his 5th novel.

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