What To Do After A Car Accident That Wasn’t Your Fault

What to do after an accident that was not your fault

Here’s the suggested timeline of events after an accident. Follow these as closely as possible.

• Immediate actions after a car accident: Keep your composure, look for any injuries, and, if it’s safe, move the cars out of traffic. Get checked by a medical professional as soon as possible as some injuries don’t show symptoms until hours or days later.
• Gather evidence: Gather every detail you can at the crash site. Swap contact and insurance information with the other driver, snap photos of the vehicles and surroundings, and speak to witnesses. These records can be critical if the other driver doesn’t notify their insurer or disputes what happened.
• Do not admit fault: In the aftermath of a crash, avoid saying anything that sounds like an admission of fault. Even a simple apology can be used against you later, reducing your chance of compensation and opening the door to legal liability.
• Report the accident: Notify the police so an official report is created, it often carries weight when insurance claims are resolved. Once you’re home, write down everything you remember about the crash to make sure no important details are lost.
• Seek medical and legal help: Put your health first by scheduling a thorough medical evaluation. Many accident-related injuries surface hours or days later. Take time to learn how your state’s laws and your insurance policy apply to your situation. If the crash involves significant injuries or complex claims, speaking with a car accident lawyer can help you understand your options and deal more effectively with insurers.
• Claim insurance or legal action: Learn how the claims process works, whether you’re filing with your own insurer or the other driver’s carrier. For severe injuries or when negotiations stall, it may be necessary to take legal action against the at-fault driver’s insurance company to recover full compensation.
• Be aware of the statute of limitations: Keep in mind that every state sets its own deadline for filing a car accident claim. For example, in Florida you generally have four years from the crash date to bring a case. Missing the deadline can mean losing your right to compensation altogether.

How does car insurance work when the car accident was not your fault?

Here’s a breakdown of how car insurance works in situations where you weren’t at fault:

Fault vs no-fault states

• At-fault states: The at-fault driver’s liability coverage pays for your injuries and property damage up to policy limits. You typically file a third-party claim with their insurer. Your own collision coverage can speed repairs while subrogation plays out.
• No-fault states: Your PIP benefits pay medical bills and partial lost wages regardless of fault. You may sue the at-fault driver only if your injuries meet the state’s “serious” threshold.

Coverages that matter

• Bodily injury liability: Pays the other party for injuries the insured causes. You claim against this when you were not at fault.
• Property damage liability: Pays for vehicle and property repair or replacement.
• Collision coverage: Repairs your car regardless of fault, subject to your deductible. Your insurer can recover later.
• Comprehensive coverage: Covers non-collision losses like theft or hail. Not fault dependent.
• Medical payments (MedPay): Optional no-fault medical coverage that pays quickly without regard to liability.
• Uninsured motorist (UM): Pays if the at-fault driver has no insurance. Often includes UM property damage in some states.
• Underinsured motorist (UIM): Fills the gap when the at-fault driver’s limits are too low to cover your losses.
• Rental reimbursement: Pays for a rental car while yours is being repaired.
• Gap insurance: Covers the difference between your loan balance and the actual cash value if your car is totaled.

Key claim concepts

• Total loss and ACV: an insurer totals a car when repair cost plus salvage exceeds a percentage of its actual cash value. You can dispute ACV with maintenance records, recent upgrades, and comparable listings.
• Diminished value: you may claim loss of resale value after repair in many at-fault states. Insurers resist these claims without evidence.
• Subrogation: if your insurer pays first, it will seek reimbursement from the at-fault carrier and may reimburse your deductible if recovery succeeds.

How can I evaluate whether I have a good case?

Deciding whether to use an attorney or self-claim using Mighty.com is helped by evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of your case.

Liability strength

• Clear violations: Rear-end, left turn across traffic, red light citations, or police fault assessment improve your position.
• Evidence quality: Dashcam footage, eyewitnesses, skid measurements, impact points, and intersection camera footage help establish fault.
• Comparative negligence: If your state reduces recovery by your share of fault, each percent matters.

Damages and documentation

• Medical proof: Consistent treatment, specialist notes, imaging, and prognosis support both economic and non-economic damages.
• Wage loss: Employer letters, payroll records, and doctor disability notes are essential. Include lost overtime or gig income with 1099s and bank records.
• Future loss: Physician opinions on future care, life-care plans, and vocational assessments raise claim value.

Insurance and venue realities

• Policy limits: At-fault limits can cap recovery unless UIM applies. Early policy limit disclosure in some states helps strategy.
• Venue: Juries in some counties award higher non-economic damages than others. This affects settlement leverage.

Consistency and credibility

• No treatment gaps: Long breaks invite arguments that you recovered or your injury is unrelated.
• Social media hygiene: Posts that suggest strenuous activity can be used against you.
• Accurate forms: ER descriptions should match later reports. Correct errors promptly.

Mighty can triage these factors. If damages are modest and liability is clear, Mighty’s self-file guidance helps you settle efficiently.

If injuries are serious or fault is disputed, Mighty can refer you to lawyers suited to your case type and location.

Does a police report help in determining a car accident fault?

The short answer is yes, a police report can help significantly in determining fault after a car accident.

Why police reports matter

• Weight with insurers: Adjusters lean on officer observations, diagrams, and any citations.
• Scene facts: Reports preserve road, weather, and damage details that disappear within hours.
• Supplemental updates: Officers can add supplements after further information or witness follow-up.

What’s inside

• Parties and vehicles: Names, VINs, insurers, and coverage.
• Narrative and diagram: Positions, directions, impact points, and skid marks.
• Codes and citations: Standardized contributing factors and any violations.

Limits and fixes

• Not conclusive: Fault findings are persuasive but not binding. Reconstruction or video can outweigh them.
• Errors happen: Request your report, mark mistakes, and ask the agency for a correction or an addendum with your statement.

If no police report exists, gather medical records, photos, shop estimates, and witness statements. You can still prove fault with a well-documented file.

Step-by-step accident response checklist

If you find yourself dealing with a car accident, here’s a chronological checklist of what you should do next:

At the scene

• Call 911: Report injuries and request police.
• Move to safety: Protect people first.
• Exchange information: Drivers, passengers, and witnesses.
• Document the scene: Photos, video, dashcam, and quick notes.
• Limit statements: Do not admit fault or speculate.

Within 24 hours

• Seek medical care: Urgent care or ER for evaluation and documentation.
• Notify insurers: Report the auto accident to your carrier. Provide facts, not opinions.
• Secure the vehicle: Tow to a trusted shop. Ask the shop to retain parts for inspection.
• Preserve evidence: Save dashcam files and back them up.

Within 3 to 7 days

• Obtain the police report: Note the report number at the scene.
• Start a claim diary: Dates, calls, adjuster names, and promises.
• Estimate losses: Medical bills, lost time at work, rental needs, out-of-pocket costs.
• Consider UM/UIM notice: Notify your carrier early if coverage may be needed.
• Talk to a professional: If injuries persist or liability is disputed, use Mighty or consult a lawyer.

Ongoing claim management

• Follow treatment plans: Keep appointments and therapy sessions.
• Track expenses: Medications, co-pays, mileage to treatment, home help, and medical equipment.
• Protect your case: Avoid public posts that minimize injury. Route adjuster calls through you or your representative.
• Review offers carefully: Compare to full damages including future care and diminished value.

How Mighty can help

• Claim evaluation: Get a fast screen of claim value and complexity so you know whether self-filing is realistic.
• Self-file guidance for small claims: Step-by-step instructions, document checklists, and templates that help you present a clean, persuasive demand without paying legal fees.
• Lawyer referrals for complex cases: When injuries are serious or liability is contested, Mighty can recommend vetted car accident lawyers. You keep control while gaining expertise.

Final thoughts

Being in a car accident you didn’t cause is overwhelming, but the steps you take afterward have a major impact on your health, finances, and ability to recover fair compensation.

From calling the police and documenting the scene to seeking medical care, notifying insurers, and tracking deadlines, each action helps protect your rights.

Remember that even when liability seems clear, insurance companies may dispute fault or try to minimize payouts.

Staying organized, keeping detailed records, and understanding your state’s rules give you leverage. And if the claim becomes complicated or involves serious injuries, getting professional guidance can make all the difference.

Mighty.com’s AI claims assistant is built to help in exactly these situations, evaluating the strength of your case, guiding you through self-filing when the claim is small, or connecting you with experienced car accident lawyers when legal representation is necessary.

That way, you can focus on recovery while knowing your claim is being handled correctly.

Non-fault car accident FAQs

Do I need to call the police for a minor car accident if it wasn’t my fault?

In most states you must report a crash that involves injury, death, or damage above a set dollar amount. Even for “minor” collisions, a police report helps document fault, damage, and injuries. Call non-emergency if no one is hurt. Ask how to obtain the report and whether a supplemental report can be added if more details surface.

Who pays my medical bills while the claim is pending if I wasn’t at fault?

Care is typically paid first by your health insurance, PIP, or MedPay depending on your state and your policy. The at-fault driver’s insurer reimburses later through settlement. Your health insurer may assert a lien for what it paid. Negotiating medical liens at the end of the case increases your net recovery. Keep every bill and EOB so nothing is missed.

Will my insurance rates go up if I file a claim when I wasn’t at fault?

Premium changes depend on your carrier, state rules, and claim history. Many insurers do not surcharge for not-at-fault claims, though comprehensive or collision claims can still affect renewal pricing. Filing a notice protects your rights and allows your carrier to handle subrogation. Ask your agent about your company’s surcharge policy.

What if the other driver is uninsured or flees the scene?

File a police report immediately and notify your insurer. Uninsured motorist coverage can pay for injuries when the at-fault driver lacks insurance or cannot be identified in a hit-and-run. Some states require physical contact or prompt police reporting for UM claims. Early notice to your carrier is critical to avoid policy defenses.

Can I claim diminished value if the accident wasn’t my fault?

In many at-fault states you can pursue diminished value for the loss in resale value after a repaired vehicle. You strengthen the claim with a pre- and post-repair valuation, high-quality photos, OEM repair invoices, and comparable listings. Insurers push back on these claims without documentation. Some states limit or bar diminished value from your own collision claim but allow it against the at-fault carrier.