I Wrecked My Friend's Car - What Now?
By: Rasansky Law Firm | Posted: 25th June 2010
Your auto is in the repair shop for a couple days, and your friend very generously lets you use her spare car until you get yours back . Then the most humiliating thing imaginable happens - you wreck her car! What do you do now?
First , obviously , you need to treat this as you would any other accident . Don't call your buddy on the phone in a scare. Phone the authorities , try to get information from the other motorist (unless this was a solo wreck ) and any possiblewitnesses , and, if possible, take a few pictures of the damage to the cars . If anyone is substantially injured , get medical assistance immediately . If you believe you may have minor injuries, go to the doctor as soon as possible . Finally , think about phoning a Dallas car accident lawyer. If you are lucky, insurance will cover this with no problems . If not, you may require an attorney to heed your desires .
If You Are at Fault
So, if everyone's OK , noone's injured , take a deep breath - that is always the most important thing. If the police decide that you are at fault for the wreck , your insurance company will likely have to be included . Fortunately, in the state of Texas, automobile insurance follows the automobile rather than the motorist . As long as you were driving your friend's car with her consent , her insurance will cover the majority of the damages . (There could be exceptions to this in individual contracts . Please have your friend check their contract .) If there's anything that her contract does not include , her insurance company will require your insurance firm to pay. You should offer to cover their deductible, if any.
If the Other Driver Is at Fault
In the instance that the other motorist is at fault, life becomes simpler . Their policy should cover the expenses . The insurance agency would only look to your pal's policy if the other motorist's deal did not cover something.
What Problems Can Come Up ?
A variety of problems can spring up in which you will want to have your vehicle crash lawyer at hand. For example , there are cases where the possessor of the auto (your friend ) refuses to contact her insurance agency because she's scared her rates will go up . She could end up attempting to sue you for the damages . By law, her policy should pay, and your lawyer may have to assert that in trial .
If the accident involved wounds , either to you or the driver of the other vehicle , it can get sketchy . Lawsuits start flying when people get injured , especially if the insurance agencies are not covering their end. You may need to get in touch with a Dallas personal injury lawyer to sort out the problems here.
After the wreck , remember to stay cool . Give the police the basics that they require , but do not speak of opinions about fault or guilt. When you talk to the insurance companies , be honest but careful about what you say. Better yet, let a Dallas car accident attorney do the speaking for you.This article is free for republishing
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Tags: scare, exceptions, desires, damages, couple days, insurance company, insurance, deep breath, contracts, cars, minor injuries, medical assistance, authorities, state of texas, car accident lawyer, insurance agency, insurance firm