What to Do After a Car Accident While Test Driving
Have you been in a car accident while test driving a car at a dealership? You might be wondering what your next steps should be. Here’s what you need to know, and how our team at The Soliman Firm in Costa Mesa, CA can help.
What to Do After a Car Accident While Test Driving
If you are thinking about purchasing a vehicle, then going for a test drive is a great way to figure out if this is the right car for you. But sometimes life can have surprises in store. While there’s no ideal time to get into an accident, getting into a car accident while test driving can bring up some additional complications.
If you have gotten into an accident during your test drive, there are a few things that you should make sure that you do after the accident. While the specifics of what you should do depend on a few different factors, there are some general steps you’ll need to make sure you take immediately after the accident.
Call the Police
The first thing you should do after getting into an accident is to call the police as well as the paramedics if someone was injured in the collision. You will need to do this so that the police can prepare a report, which will be a particularly important document if you end up needing to take your case to court.
Regardless of how minor or major the accident was, you will need to make sure to call the police after the accident.
Get the Contact Information of Those Involved
After calling the police, you will need to make sure that you get the contact information for the rest of the parties involved in the accident. This will be important for handling insurance issues and making sure that you can reach the parties should you need to. This will also include any witnesses.
Take Photographs
If you need to file a claim after your accident, then having photos of the accident at the ready will be helpful. Make sure to photograph any damages there are, as well as any other relevant details like signage.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
There are lots of reasons why a car accident might occur. A defect in the car you are testing, the other driver’s fault, or your own fault. Regardless, it is important to speak to a car accident lawyer and to receive guidance, and to learn about your legal options.
Call Your Insurance Provider
If you are in an accident during your test drive, it’s unlikely that your insurance provider will be responsible for covering the damages. Your dealership should have their own insurance that they will use to cover the damages. Still, you and your insurance provider may end up needing to cover some of the costs.
Determining Who Is Responsible for the Accident
In any type of car accident, the party whose negligence caused the accident will be responsible for any of the damages or injuries that have resulted from the accident. Getting into a car accident while test driving a vehicle is no different.
If the accident was caused by your own negligence, you’ll still be responsible for it, even though you were test driving a car. Conversely, if the accident was caused by the negligence of a different driver, they’ll be the one to bear the responsibility.
How Insurance Factors In
The Other Driver’s Insurance
If the other party is determined to be at fault for the accident, then all of the subsequent claims will be made against their insurance. The dealership will process claims through that party’s insurance.
The Dealership’s Insurance
The dealership that you are visiting should have fleet insurance on all of their vehicles. Most of the time, test drivers will be covered under this insurance. This type of insurance will normally cover any damages or injuries incurred from the accident.
If the other driver is liable for the accident and they do not have insurance, then the dealership can process the claims using their insurance to cover the damages from the accident. However, if you as the test driver are liable for the accident, then the dealer will file a third-party claim through your insurance. If you are a minor, some dealerships will use their insurance to cover the costs of damages regardless.
Dealership Liability Waivers
Some dealerships will try to minimize the risk on their end by making test drivers sign a liability waiver. Essentially, these waivers say that you agree to be responsible for any damages that occur while you’re test driving the vehicle. It’s not common for dealers to have the waivers, however, as they can discourage people from going to test drives, which will result in lower sales.
But some dealerships do require these waivers to be signed before going for a test drive. If you are being asked to sign one, make sure that you understand what you are agreeing to by signing and that you’re comfortable with the responsibility you’re taking on. If you’re not, you might want to find another dealership.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help?
Regardless of whether you’ve gotten into an accident during a test drive or if you got into one driving your regular vehicle, contacting a car accident lawyer should be one of the first things that you do.
If you suffered injury or damages because of a car accident, a qualified car accident lawyer will make sure that you are properly compensated. Remember to follow the steps above immediately after your accident to stay in accordance with the law and protect your legal rights.
Work With Qualified Lawyers
If you’ve gotten into a car accident during your test drive, then our team of experienced and professional lawyers is here to help. We will offer you a free, no-obligation consultation to help you understand how we might be able to help you. Get in touch with us today at The Soliman Firm in Costa Mesa, CA to book yours.