Car accidents are fairly common occurrences, and when you’re involved in one, you’d expect a police officer to issue a ticket to the party who caused the crash. However, this is not always the case. If it’s your first time being in such a position, you might not know how to react.
You can still file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company when no one was ticketed in the car accident. A personal injury lawyer can help you gather evidence to support your claim, establish the framework for pursuing compensation from the at-fault party, and represent you throughout the claims process.
What Are the Reasons That Prompt an Officer Not to Issue a Ticket?
The main reason police officers fail to issue a ticket at an accident scene is that they were absent when the events took place. Therefore, they might not get credible accounts of the events from sources like independent witnesses. When in this position, the responding officer cannot issue a ticket to the parties involved in the accident.
However, there are circumstances where the police officers may use signs of fault to apportion the blame in the accident. Some of the common signs include:
- Evidence that one party was speeding before the accident
- A rear-end collision shows the rear driver was at fault
- Signs that one of the parties was intoxicated during the accident
- Skid marks and other physical evidence on the road
The ticket is never the final verdict in apportioning blame, as it is a reflection of the responding officer’s opinion about the car accident.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help You With Your Case?
A car accident lawyer will launch an independent investigation into the accident. The purpose of the investigation is to collect evidence to prove the other driver’s fault. Some of the evidence a lawyer will collect include:
- Testimonies from eyewitness
- A formal report from the police about the accident
- Photographs of the accident scene
- Traffic camera footage or other available video
- Medical records concerning your injuries from the accident
Your lawyer can also work with insurance companies. This task typically involves taking phone calls, keeping track of emails, and sending demand letters on your behalf. If the insurer ever tries contacting you, give them your lawyer’s information, and they will take it from there.
After your lawyer has assessed your damages, they will demand that amount from the insurer. Usually, they come back with an offer that doesn’t cover the full extent of your losses. In that case, you can depend on your lawyer to negotiate with them until they reach an agreement. If an out-of-court settlement isn’t possible, your injury attorney can advocate for you in a trial.
What Are the Types of Compensation Available in a Car Accident Case?
The types of compensation you receive in a car accident claim or lawsuit depend on the circumstances of the case, such as:
- Your age
- The severity of your accident
- The nature and extent of your injuries
- The duration and intensity of your treatment
- Your mental health
- Your work capabilities
These factors may indicate that you are entitled to recover damages for:
- Past and future medical costs: For emergency care, diagnostic testing, anti-inflammatory medication or pain relievers, surgery, hospital stays, or ongoing doctor’s appointments
- Lost income: For the wages, bonuses, opportunities, and benefits you couldn’t obtain if you missed time at work
- Lost future earning capacity: For the wages you won’t be able to earn since you can’t return to work for the time being
- Property damage expenses: For the car repair or replacement bills
- Pain and suffering: For the discomfort and inconvenience your injuries have caused you
- Disfigurement and scarring: For the changes your injuries made to your movement or appearance
- Mental anguish: For the mental trauma you’ve undergone since the accident
If you lost your loved one to the car accident, wrongful death damages may be available to you and your family. You could seek a financial recovery for funeral bills, lost financial support, and end-of-life medical expenses, in addition to your loss of companionship, household services, and/or consortium.
Contact George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers After a Car Accident Without Ticketing
At George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers, we can help you understand what to do when no one is ticketed in a car accident. We offer legal representation and guidance for victims of car accidents to help them get the justice they deserve. We will analyze the circumstances of the accident, determine liability, assist you with filing your case, and pursue the compensation you are entitled to collect.
If you or a loved one was involved in a car accident, call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers at (888) 612-7001 for a free case consultation. We offer our legal help on a contingency fee, so we won’t get paid unless you do.