Car crashes can be disorienting, but if you stay calm and comply with laws, you give yourself the best chance for a favorable outcome.
Reporting a Mankato car accident to the police is the preferred action in most cases. If you are injured, you should also contact an auto accident attorney. At Maschka Personal Injury, our lawyers have been representing injured Mankato and Southern Minnesota residents for decades, and we have the knowledge, skills, and experience to help you manage the aftermath of a serious accident.
Minnesota Statutes § 169.09 details what actions a motorist should take after a crash. Whenever there is a collision, drivers must stop, pull over to the nearest safe place, and investigate.
If you collide with an unattended vehicle, you must try to find the owner. If that is impossible, you must leave a note containing your name and address, and the owner’s name and address if you do not own the vehicle you were driving. You must follow the same protocol if you damage someone’s property. You should also notify the police and provide the information to the responding officer.
If two occupied cars are involved in a crash, both drivers must stop and exchange information. If someone was hurt or if one of the vehicles involved in the Mankato crash sustained $1,000 in damage, you must contact the police as quickly as possible. Even if everyone seems alright after the automobile crash and the property damage is minor, it is still wise to report the incident to Mankato law enforcement.
You must share your name, address, date of birth, and your vehicle’s registration with the officer investigating the crash. You must produce your driver’s license or learner’s permit upon request. If requested, you must provide the name and address of your insurance company within 72 hours of the accident.
You must honestly answer the officer’s questions about the accident. You must tell them what happened, but you should avoid telling them why you think the accident occurred. Speculating about the cause of the crash can complicate any claim you might make later.
The insurer for the other party will have access to the police report and may use what you said against you. Minnesota Statutes § 604.01 bars recovery for anyone who is more than 50 percent responsible for a crash from claiming damages from other involved parties. Our Mankato attorneys will work to preserve your claim by contextualizing any admissions you made after the vehicle wreck, but it is best to avoid such statements to an officer.
The actions you take after notifying the Mankato police of your vehicle collision are important. They can either strengthen or weaken a future claim for damages.
If the emergency responders offer you an ambulance to the hospital, you should accept it even if you are not sure your insurance will cover it. The ambulance ride should be covered by your no-fault or personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. Our attorneys could also negotiate with creditors, including health insurers, after the crash to protect you from harassment. If there is no ambulance available, have someone drive you to an emergency room or urgent care center as soon as possible.
Traumatic injuries may not produce symptoms immediately. If a healthcare provider knows that you were recently involved in an accident, they will screen for those injuries and begin immediate treatment. A medical record generated soon after the incident connects your injuries to the crash, which can be important if you bring a claim.
Reporting a Mankato car accident to the police is the first step, but what comes next can be overwhelming. If you suffered injuries in a crash, our attorneys at Maschka Personal Injury can help you pursue a claim. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with our vehicle crash intake team today.
