Liability depends on who was careless or negligent. In a car crash, it’s typically the driver who broke a traffic law or drove unsafely. For a contractor’s work, the company or worker could be liable if their faulty work or unsafe job site directly caused your injury. Sometimes, multiple parties share liability, like a driver and a vehicle manufacturer. Determining fault requires investigating the specific facts and applicable safety rules that were violated.

Yes, contact your insurance company as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours. Provide them with the police report number and all the evidence you collected. This starts the claims process. Your own collision coverage or uninsured motorist property damage coverage typically applies in hit-and-run cases. Delaying this call can give the insurer a reason to question or deny your claim.

No. Never tell someone they do not need medical care. Your role is to ensure their well-being is addressed, not to make medical judgments. Instead, encourage them to be evaluated by a professional, especially if they report any pain or discomfort. You can say, “I’m not a doctor, so it’s always best to get checked out to be safe.“ This shows reasonable care and prevents accusations that you downplayed their injuries, which could be seen as an admission of guilt.