# What to Do When a Car Crash Isn't Your Fault | Postman Law **Table of Contents***[*Expand*]* 1. Steps to Take After a Car Accident That Wasn’t Your Fault 2. Do I Need a Lawyer After an Accident That Wasn’t My Fault? 3. Do I Need to Notify My Insurance Company About an Accident That Wasn’t My Fault? 4. Will My Insurance Rates Go Up After an Accident That Wasn’t My Fault? 5. Mistakes to Avoid After a No-Fault Car Accident 6. Contact a Car Accident Lawyer from Postman Law After a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you should**document the scene**,**see a doctor**,**and hire legal**representation. Even when you’re not responsible for the crash, you need to take the proper steps to preserve your ability to recover financial compensation. You can talk to a [car accident lawyer](https://www.postmanlaw.com/chicago-il/car-accident-lawyer/) to get more specific guidance about your situation.  ## Steps to Take After a Car Accident That Wasn’t Your Fault The immediate steps after a car accident are extremely important for setting up your accident claim for success. Below are three main steps: ### Contact the Authorities After checking yourself for injuries, contact the police and emergency first responders. You want to call the police so that they can generate an accident report. The police accident report will serve as evidence of the accident and contains basic information pertaining to the crash, like the date and location.  ### Document the Scene Once you have notified the police, you should start documenting the crash scene. You need to take pictures of any vehicle damage and your injuries. Make notes of any environmental factors that contributed to the crash and get the other driver’s contact and insurance information. If possible, ask eyewitnesses to give a statement about the accident events.  ### Get Medical Attention Your next priority should be seeing a doctor to get a diagnosis of your injuries. You’ll need an official diagnosis and medical documentation to prove your injuries and losses. Get copies of any lab reports, imaging results, diagnostic work, and doctors’ notes. Also, get copies of discharge paperwork and medical bills.  ### Track Your Expenses The point of filing a car accident claim is to recover financial compensation for the losses you suffered. To that end, you must keep detailed records of all your expenses and losses. This includes your medical expenses, lost work income, and other miscellaneous costs associated with your injuries.  For a free legal consultation, call [844-767-8626](tel:+18447678626) ## Do I Need a Lawyer After an Accident That Wasn’t My Fault? You **should always**work with a lawyer after an accident, even one that isn’t your fault. Below are some of the reasons why you should consider getting an attorney: ### Liability Disputes Even in cases where the accident clearly isn’t your fault, the insurance company may still try to dispute events. Insurance companies are businesses, so they want to minimize their costs by paying as little as possible. A lawyer can push back if insurance companies try to shift blame or deny your reported version of events.  ### Administrative Support Filing an insurance claim requires significant paperwork and documentation. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the administrative burden if you don’t know what to expect. A lawyer can handle all administrative aspects of the claim process and ensure you meet all filing requirements and deadlines.  ### Negotiation Leverage Perhaps most importantly, a lawyer can represent you during insurance negotiations. Attorneys are familiar with insurance company tactics and can negotiate a higher settlement if the insurer tries to lowball you.  ## Do I Need to Notify My Insurance Company About an Accident That Wasn’t My Fault? **Yes**, you need to contact your insurance company about any accident, even ones that aren’t your fault. Most insurance companies require policyholders to report *all*accidents, including ones where you aren’t to blame. Failing to report or hiding an accident from your insurance company can result in coverage reduction or termination of the policy.  If you live in a no-fault insurance state, you’ll also need to contact your insurer to access your [PIP insurance coverage](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/personal-injury-protection-pip.asp). Similarly, your insurance company needs to know if you’re going to file a comprehensive collision claim.  [Click to contact](/contact/) our personal injury lawyers today ## Will My Insurance Rates Go Up After an Accident That Wasn’t My Fault? Whether or not your insurance rates go up after a no-fault accident **depends on the state**. Some states, like Colorado, have laws that forbid insurers from raising rates for accidents that aren’t your fault.  Other states may limit how much of a surcharge insurers can charge for no-fault accidents. If your insurance rates go up, the increase will be less than for an at-fault accident.  ## Mistakes to Avoid After a No-Fault Car Accident Even when the fault is clear and you’re not responsible, there are several mistakes that can jeopardize the success of your claim. Avoid the following pitfalls: - Not documenting the accident scene - Failing to see a doctor in a reasonable time - Admitting fault or apologizing to the insurance company or other driver - Not getting copies of your medical documentation - Giving the insurance company a recorded statement - Accepting the very first settlement offer - Not hiring a personal injury lawyer early in the process ## Contact a Car Accident Lawyer from Postman Law After a car accident that wasn’t your fault, contact our offices online or reach out by phone to speak to a car accident lawyer from Postman Law. Consultations are free, and we only take a fee if we win your case, so there is no risk in reaching out.  --- Source: https://www.postmanlaw.com/faqs/what-to-do-after-car-acciden-not-your-fault/