Documenting a Phantom Car Accident
Phantom accidents increase in the winter months. With snow and ice on the road, some drivers will skid uncontrollably into your lane, before quickly straightening out. However, you might have jerked on the wheel to prevent a collision only to slide off the road yourself and roll over in a ditch or crash into a tree.
Phantom accidents cost motorists millions of dollars each year. With luck, a driver will stop and help if they almost hit you. Unfortunately, many drivers pull away, which has given rise to the name “phantom” motorists.
Here is what you should do to document the accident.
Call the Police
An officer should come to the scene. Failure to call the police will raise alarms with insurance companies. They might assume you know you are responsible for your crash, which is why you declined to call. If you are too hurt, then ask someone to call for you. They can also request an ambulance.
Write Down Memories of What Happened
When you get a quiet moment, you can document what you remember of the crash. We recommend details about the vehicle. It’s helpful if you saw even a couple letters or numbers of the license plate, which can narrow down the driver’s identity.
More details also increase your credibility with insurance companies. You might end up filing a claim on your uninsured motorist insurance, with the accident treated like a hit and run.
Speak with Witnesses
Hopefully motorists who saw you almost get hit will stop and provide assistance. They can also offer their perspective on what happened, including details about the vehicle.
An eyewitness can be anyone in your car, as well as motorists in other vehicles that stop. If you are hit in Portland, then people on the sidewalk or in businesses might have also seen the crash.
Of course, you could be in agony after the wreck. Hopefully, someone called the police for you, and an officer can speak to any witnesses who stick around. The police report might even mention them by name, so your attorney can follow up with them when you are ready to file an insurance claim.
Hire a Lawyer to Help You
A lawyer can help negotiate with an insurance company. The main dispute will be whether you were almost hit or if you slid off the road because you were fatigued or intoxicated. Insurance companies spend most of their day looking for ways to deny claims, and blaming you for a phantom car accident is a convenient way for them to dodge paying compensation.
A lawyer can also provide a more comprehensive search to find the driver who almost hit you. Once found, we can submit a claim on their liability insurance to cover your car damage, medical treatment, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Call Our Portland Phantom Lawyer Today
Rosenbaum Law Group, PC, can meet for a free consultation to go over the details of your crash. Hire us before beginning your claim. We can negotiate for a fair settlement with your insurer or file a claim if the driver is found. A Portland phantom accident lawyer is standing by.
