Last Updated on September 17, 2022 by John Robinson
A car accident can be troublesome and leave you feeling shocked and confused. After all, you are concerned about your car and your well-being. When you get into a car accident, adrenaline and general disorientation and confusion can cause you to make mistakes after the accident. But there are certain mistakes after an auto accident that you do not want to make .
We have mapped out some mistakes you want to avoid after a car accident; that way, you will not miss a thing.
Top Mistakes After An Auto Accident
1. Leaving the Accident Scene
The number one thing you want to avoid after a car crash is leaving the scene of the accident. That is because it is illegal and can result in criminal charges. People who leave the scene of an accident can be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on whether people were injured in the car accident. Therefore, it is best to wait at the scene until the police arrive and the accident has been reported. There are a few cases where you can leave the scene; you can leave if you need to seek medical attention right away, if your life is threatened, or if you need to call the police and don’t have a phone with you.
2. Not Calling the Police
You want to make sure that even if no one is hurt, you call a police officer to the scene of the accident. The police officer will produce a report stating what happened in the accident, get witness testimony, and record the names of the people involved. A police report will help when making your insurance claim or if you have to go to trial for the accident. A skilled and experienced personal injury lawyer can help you gather this information to talk to the insurance company.
3. Not Seeking Medical Attention
Even if you do not think you are hurt, it is wise to seek medical attention at the accident scene. The reason is that after the shock and adrenaline from the accident wear off, you may realize that you are hurt. Also, you may realize that you are hurt some time later, and if you did not seek medical attention, there is no way to prove that you were hurt from the crash. Medical reports help when talking to insurance companies and can help provide proof that you will need compensation for your injuries.
4. Not Gathering Information
A key to proving you were not at fault for an accident is gathering information at the scene. 1800injured.care recommends taking pictures of your car and the other car involved in the accident. Taking pictures can help to prove who caused the accident based on the damage to the vehicle and details in the accident scene. You also want to get the driver’s license, plate number, and insurance company information of the other driver involved in the accident.
5. Not Getting Witness Testimony
Witness testimony can help you and your lawyer tremendously when talking to the insurance company. If anyone is at the scene of the accident and is willing to provide witness testimony, be sure to get their contact information so they can talk to your insurance company later and tell them what they saw.
6. Taking Responsibility
Taking responsibility is not something you want to do right after you have gotten into a car accident. You do not want to admit fault or apologize to the other driver. The reason is that when the other person talks to their insurance company, they can say that you admitted blame, which will not help your injury case. Even if the accident was your fault, you still do not want to take responsibility. If the accident is not your fault, all the evidence provided will be able to prove that, so you should avoid apologizing or taking responsibility.
7. Talking to The Insurance Company On Your Own
Many people will say the wrong things to the insurance company and ruin their chances of compensation. Therefore, you must contact a personal injury lawyer to help you gather evidence and talk to the insurance company for you. Having the help of a skilled professional can go a long way. You do not want to incriminate yourself and cause things to get more complicated down the road.
Getting into an accident can be scary, but it can make the event much easier if you get the right help and avoid mistakes.
