Injured in an Auto Accident? Know Your Rights | O'Keeffe O'Brien Lyson Attorneys

Injured in an Auto Accident? Know Your Rights

Whenever a motorist operates an automobile, they are expected to exercise reasonable care not to injure others, and the failure to do so may be considered negligence. A person who drives in a negligent manner may be obligated to pay for any damages that he or she causes.

An injured party has certain rights in the event of a crash, including:2477374996_0d95848ca0_b

Police Report

In North Dakota, you have a right to obtain a copy of the crash report generated after the crash, and it’s important that you request one as soon as possible. A crash report typically includes information about:

  • The other driver’s automobile insurance
  • Accident scene, including a diagram and narrative
  • Road conditions
  • Witness contact information
  • An analysis of fault, if applicable

Insurance companies rely on such reports when settling property damage issues, making them extremely important documents.

Medical Care

If you’ve been injured in an auto crash, you should seek medical care immediately. If you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Medical Payments (Med Pay) coverage on your policy, you have the right to use that coverage to pay your crash-related medical bills, even if you have health insurance.

PIP or Med Pay will pay your bills until the limits of your coverage have been exhausted. Then if you still have unpaid medical bills, they may be paid through private health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. If there is no other source of payment, you may have to pay your bills yourself, but be sure to keep copies of all the bills you paid, as these expenses can be claimed in a lawsuit against the at-fault driver.

Legal Counsel

Any time you suffer an injury that was caused by someone else, you should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. Contact O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys online, or call 701-235-8000 or 877-235-8002 (toll-free) today.

 

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