So, as the title implies, I was in a car accident, yesterday morning. I've never been in one so I'll have some questions at the bottom of the OP. Here's what happened:
TL;WR: Old guy w/ a Honda hit me from the side pretty good. Police sided with me
I was driving between jobs, I had worked a short shift earlier that morning. My next shift was with an elderly client in his 80's. He lives in an upper middle class neighborhood. So I'm driving through this quiet, older neighborhood. Nothing is out of place, and I'm going 20mph (it's a 25mph speed limit) and the road curves to the left and so I'm ever so slightly turning, well, left -when suddenly a car driving through the dead center of the road comes and hits me on the left (driver's) side.
It took me a couple seconds to realize what happened. I want to see the damages so I look at my car, or attempt to, since my door barely opens. When I finally get a look at what happened I already noticed he shredded both of my cars rims, both tires are popped, and other pretty decent cosmetic damages. Dunno about the internal damages, yet.
The other guy, besides his front being damaged, his entire left front wheel is broken off. Axis and all. The man was in his late 60's, early to mid 70's. He's frusterated. And says, "Hey, I'm going to get somee things from my house. I live right there." He points at a house 3 doors down from where we are. "Yeah, fine." I say. I text my girlfriend what happened and then call the police. The guy later returned, angry, and confused.
When the police arrive they inspect the cars. They ask him what happened and the guy goes, "I don't know." And when asking me I explain what happened. Telling them how he was going through the middle part of this 2 lane intersection. The cops, originally being on both sides eventually sided with me (the guy had 6-7ft of space on the right side of the lane; while I was driving on the left), giving the guy a citation and I believe, a ticket. At this point the pain of the crash set in. My head and neck hurt. But I had to wait while the cops did more paperwork. I called off from my second job. They were understandable (turns out my boss from my second job is the ex-daughter-in-law of this guy).
With that out of the way the towing companies showed up and took the cars away. The cops gave everyone the paperwork needed and said to contact my insurance and theirs. At the same time my gf was annoying the cops the entire time by calling every 3 minutes when I needed to give them info XD The guy left for work with his wife who drove him. The cops left as did the towtruck so I was left by myself. My gf said she'd pick me up in 30. So I walked to my clients house, my replacement already there, and asked if I could stay while I got everything figured out (it was 57F outside). They let me in and I called my insurance company to put in a claim.
When my gf got to the house I went to get a check-up from the hospital. They said I have slight whip lash and I can't work for 2 days. And given a $1,000 medical bill.
Still figuring everything out. I'm going to contact the other persons insurance today and hopefully get a rental until my car is fixed.
Questions:
So my insurance and the police have ruled I was not liable for the accident, so it is not my fault. Will the guys insurance fight that?
My mom said I need to get a lawyer to make sure my medical bills are paid by the other company, do I?
How do I claim lost wages and how long do I wait until I get it? On top of that my family and my gfs family said I can claim other things.
Pictures (when a mod adds them), I have a 2016 Toyota Corolla LE, he has the 1999 Honda Civic:
I''ve got more but am still tired cause of the medicine the hospital gave me. Any questions? Ask. I left some small details out that might make things more clear.
