Dealing with an accident aftermath is never easy, mainly if you are injured, and there is car accident damage. This guide takes you through the vital tips when facing harassment after car accident damages.
Get a Lawyer
So, you have survived an accident impact, taken to hospital, and now you have realized your car, and the other driver’s is damaged. To make matters worse, the other driver accuses you of being at fault and perhaps starts harassing you verbally or physically.
What should you do in such a situation? Getting a car accident attorney is the first and most important step to take when you are involved in an accident. Accident lawyers are skilled and can provide quick help in that dire need.
Whether it is the other driver or any other third party, you should not replay or react to the harassment threats. Instead, you should leave the tasks to your lawyer, who records everything that takes place and uses it in court if there is a lawsuit.
The main types of harassment that need a lawyer’s help include the threat to smear your name, a threat to sue you back, or physically harm you. Most perils come from aggressive or drunk drivers and may also be caused by the other party’s legal team.
By hiring a lawyer, you save the energy and time of fighting back as you focus on your full body recovery. Here are the main ways in which an accident attorney can help you when facing harassment after car accident damages:
Evaluating Damages
A good accident lawyer can help you evaluate the damages you incur after an accident. The proper evaluation can help minimize harassment from another party if they exaggerate the car accident damages, assuming that you are at fault.
Collecting Evidence
Evidence collection is vital as it provides proof of the accident occurrences, including the level of damage to the car involved. A good lawyer can help take videos and pictures and even check the CCTVs to ensure no false information is given to intimidate you.
Emotional Support
An accident can be emotionally draining, mainly if people consider you as the party at fault. Luckily, you can gain emotional support by working with an experienced lawyer. The attorney advises you on the way forward and handles the complex issues on your behalf as you rest.
At Fault Driver Determination
The other driver in an accident can blame you, even if you were not at fault. In such a situation, an experienced car accident lawyer can help determine that you are not at fault by providing the right evidence.
Hold Onto Your Possessions
When you are involved in an accident, your mind is occupied with the need to recover, mainly if you have sustained bodily injury. However, it’s also important to safeguard your possessions to avoid getting double losses in the accident.
In many cases, the possessions of people involved in accidents are usually towed in the vehicle. Police can order the towing, or it could be through your consent. Regardless, you should hold onto your possessions to avoid further harassment from other people.
Many accident victims find themselves in a car lockout situation whereby the keys are broken, locked inside the vehicle, or they get lost in the car. This situation may be caused by other people in an accident as a way of harassing you, mainly if they don’t want you to escape because they blame you for the accident.
If you are in this frustrating scenario after an accident, call for assistance immediately to safeguard your possessions. Your lawyer can help, mainly if your car still has to be used as evidence for the case. If you are at a hospital or committed elsewhere, allow someone to watch over your car and property for safety reasons.
Avoid Fees by Keeping It Out of the Tow Yard
There are many reasons your vehicle could be impounded after an accident, and the main one is to use the car as evidence. This is a frustrating experience because it can happen when you least expect it.
For instance, you may come from the hospital or the police station only to find your car is missing. The most obvious thought in this scenario would be that your car was stolen but could have been towed.
Once your car is towed, you have to pay a certain fee, which depends on time. The longer the vehicle stays in the tow yard, the more you pay. The costs can be high and add up to your expenses, considering that you still have other accident-related matters.
Therefore, keeping your car out of the tow yard is an excellent idea to avoid harassment after car accident. If you have reported the case to the police and evidence has been collected, take the vehicle to car repair shops to avoid the tow yard fees.
The mechanics may recommend a car scrapping service if the vehicle is damaged badly. Nevertheless, you should record all the costs you incur for the repair service. If the car is insured, issue your claim immediately because the insurer should take care of the repair service.
If your vehicle is accidentally towed without your knowledge, collect it within the shortest time possible. You should have the valid documents for it to be released. The main documents include your driving license, insurance, car registration document, and proof of ownership.
Don’t hesitate to talk to your lawyer whenever you feel your vehicle has been towed as a way of harassment after car accident. The lawyer can provide important advice and maybe help you take legal action.
Find an Experienced Mechanic
Finding a mechanic is almost inevitable after an accident because you will need your car back to its original shape. Financially, you can be responsible for the repairs, the other driver could be responsible, or the insurer could cater for the repairs.
A few factors that determine the party responsible include the extent of damage, the party at fault for the accident, and the amount of insurance you may get from your insurer.
Since the car is yours, you will still need to work with the best mechanic, irrespective of the party responsible financially. The ideal mechanic should know all car body repairs, so they should have an intensive knowledge of the car repair and maintenance industry.
Other than experience, here are practical tips to help you choose the right mechanic for your car repair after an accident.
Great Reputation
A quick Google search will display various mechanics around your place. Check their reviews to know what other people say about them. Mechanics with high ratings and excellent customer reviews will most likely be reputable, and you can consider them for your car repair project.
Warranties
Does the car mechanic offer a warranty? If not, leave them for the next! Car repair after an accident is quite critical, and the last thing you will need is to get a shoddy job, requiring you to look for another service later.
Work with a mechanic who offers a warranty, such that they can get the car back for repairs should anything go wrong shortly after you get the car.
Costs
Car maintenance costs after an accident can be high, mainly if the vehicle is greatly damaged. As such, you must work with a mechanic you can afford. Get price quotes for the work from different mechanics and then compare them according to your budget.
There should not be hidden costs, and the cost should include all the payments you will incur so that you won’t have to keep paying. The mechanic can negotiate with your insurance company if your vehicle is insured.
You have the right to choose a mechanic even if an insurance company will be fronting for the bill. Don’t allow an insurance firm to harass you by informing you that they have their mechanics because you may get substandard service. You are also free to choose the ideal spare parts you would like to be used in your vehicle after the accident.
Identify What Needs to Be Repaired
You use your car to run daily errands or go to work, so repairing it after an accident should be your priority. Identifying the real parts that need to be fixed is a great step to avoid harassment after car accident because you will know what you should pay for.
Detailed inspection should check the most damaged parts before initiating the repair process. If you are skilled in vehicles and their parts, you can easily use car lifts to check the parts that need repairs or replacements. Similarly, you may involve an experienced mechanic for the inspection so that you don’t miss anything when repairing.
Here are the main parts that may need a BMW auto repair after an accident:
Paint
Damaged paint is easy to note because of dents and scratches. In most cases, your vehicle will need full car paint to restore its original beautiful look if one of the areas is scrapped. Only high-quality colors should be used.
Headlights
Like the paint, headlights tend to be destroyed after an accident due to their location on the car. However, headlight repair or replacement is easy, and you can choose the type of headlight to replace so that you don’t get low-quality ones.
Bumper
You know your car’s bumper is damaged if it has visible cracks, deep scratches, or dents. An experienced mechanic should thoroughly check all the parts of the bumper to help determine if it will need repair service, replacement, or just new spraying.
Doors and Windows
An accident can damage your windows and doors, making it necessary to repair them. While you can fix a damaged car door, the windows need replacement, even if they have small cracks, to maintain the aesthetics of your car.
Air Conditioners and Heaters
Air conditioners and heaters improve the comfort of your car. However, an accident can affect the functionality of these two important features, making it necessary to repair or replace them. Confirm that the heaters and ACs are in excellent condition after an accident.
Fenders
The most common signs of damaged fenders in a car include visible damage, alignment issues, and strange sounds when driving. Check the condition of your fenders after an accident for immediate repair.
Understand the exact damaged parts in your vehicle so you can liaise with your insurance provider well and know the ideal amount you might spend on the process.
Get the Necessary Repairs
The last tip on how to avoid harassment after a car accident is to get the necessary repairs. Now that you have identified the parts which need to be repaired, you should ensure the vehicle gets to the auto body collision repair service.
Here is the general process to ensure your car gets the repair it deserves after a collision.
Document all Damages
Use your smartphone or camera to take pictures/recordings or all the damages your vehicles might have. You will use those images to prove that your car sustained damage so that the party at fault’s insurance can be held liable.
Submit a Claim
Submit your insurance claim as soon as you collect your evidence. Quick submission of the claim will facilitate the repair process. If your claims application is successful, the insurance firm will send an adjuster to physically inspect the car and confirm the damages you have listed.
Get the Right Repairs
Assuming you have already found reliable auto body repair companies, you can move the car to the mechanic of your choice for car repairs. Note that the repair process might take some time, which depends on how soon the insurance releases money and the level of damage in your car.
In some situations, an adjuster may not agree to the repairs you need on your car. In such cases, you can hire appraisers to evaluate your car’s current value to avoid possible harassment after car accident.
Don’t forget to inspect your car once again after the repair and replacement process. The inspection will help you know if your vehicle got the right service or if some parts still need more action.
Avoid Harassment After Car Accident!
A car accident is a disturbing experience that can affect your health and finances. If you have been involved in a road accident, the above tips will help you remain sane and avoid harassment after car accident from other drivers, third parties, and even your insurance firm. Don’t hesitate to seek professional help if you experience hardships.
