Being involved in a car accident can be a frustrating experience. Apart from dealing with the injuries sustained as a result of what happened, you may also have to face the difficulties associated with the crash. These can include the emotional, mental, financial, and physical effects of being an injured victim.
Because of this, it’s important that you know what steps to take to protect yourself and your right to recover compensation for all your losses. In short, you should be aware of the things you should do and shouldn’t do to make sure you get what you deserve.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, below are seven common mistakes you should avoid when dealing with this unfortunate event:
1. Failure To Call The Police
Although calling the police authorities may not actually help build your case, it’s still important that you do so because their investigation is crucial for your compensation claim. Typically, the police authorities you call after the auto collision will investigate the scene by collecting pieces of evidence that help prove your claim.
For example, they can take photos of the accident scene and the vehicles involved, determine witnesses, and gather essential information. Additionally, the police will also make a police report containing information that’s necessary for proving the other party’s fault for the crash.
Hence, if you fail to call the police, the insurance companies or the court may find it suspicious why you opted not to ask for a police investigation. To avoid this situation, make sure to call the attention of the police authorities nearby the accident scene for a formal investigation.
2. Admission Of Guilt At The Accident Scene
Telling you’re sorry for what happened in the car crash can be a thoughtful act to consider. But doing so after the accident happened can be considered an admission of guilt. When this happens, you may be unable to obtain compensation for the injuries sustained as a result of the auto crash.
To prevent this from happening, be sure to keep quiet about who’s at fault for the collision. Besides, anything you say or do may be used against you. So, stop apologizing and never admit guilt at the accident scene. In case the police authorities ask you about this subject matter, don’t hesitate to exercise your Constitutional right to remain silent and call a lawyer for assistance. The legal representative you hire from reputable law firms, like sigelmanassociates.com, can protect your rights by doing the talking and handling all the matters involving your guilt.
3. Failure To Get Medical Attention
Generally, it’s hard to determine the extent of your injuries if you’re still in shock of the accident. Not only that but some injuries may not develop right after the car accident. As such, it’s crucial to get yourself checked after what happened regardless if you feel pain or not.
That’s because your failure to seek immediate medical attention can jeopardize your chances of winning your personal injury claim and affect your physical recovery.
4. Leaving The Accident Scene
Another mistake that you should avoid when dealing with an auto crash is leaving the scene of the accident. While it’s a normal reaction to panic after what happened, leaving the scene due to panicking may mean you’ve broken the law.
Typically, leaving the area without exchanging information with the other driver involved may wrongfully accuse you of a hit and run. When this happens, you may have to deal with more problems, including the inability to obtain car accident compensation.
5. Failure To Exchange Essential Information With The Other Party
When it comes to filing a personal injury claim, your inability to exchange essential information with the other parties involved can be one of the biggest mistakes you should avoid when dealing with the accident. This won’t only affect your chances of getting a favorable outcome, but it’ll also impact your ability to determine who’s at fault for the collision.
Thus, to avoid these things, make sure to collect the necessary information, including the contact information of the other driver and witnesses, the model and make of the vehicles involved, the insurance policy numbers, the driver’s license and license plate numbers, and many more. Doing so can help improve the odds of getting compensated for your injuries.
6. Giving Too Much Information To The Insurance
When dealing with an auto crash, trusting your insurance company can adversely affect your personal injury claim. That’s because most insurance adjusters don’t have your best interests at heart. Their primary responsibility is to protect the insurance company by paying you less than you deserve.
Due to these circumstances, you should know that giving too much information to the insurance company can be a huge mistake that you should be wary of. So, refrain from providing them with the details they’re not entitled to, including the submission of a recorded statement that may diminish your settlement offer or reject your claim.
7. Accepting The First Settlement Offer Too Quickly
With all the financial worries associated with a car accident, it’s very tempting to resolve your claim quickly by accepting the first settlement offer. Unfortunately, doing this may mean receiving less than what you deserve for all your injuries. Because of this, it can be one of the biggest mistakes you’ll ever do when dealing with an auto collision.
To make sure it won’t happen, refrain from settling too quickly. Give yourself enough time to build your case, and convince the insurance company and the other party that you’re entitled to the right amount of compensation. Remember, you’re more likely to receive the amount you’ll be worthy of if you pursue your case seriously with the help of an attorney.
Bottom Line
Indeed, dealing with a car accident can be very traumatic, especially if you have no idea where to start. Luckily, by keeping these common mistakes in mind, you’ll know what to do to make sure your personal injury claim will be in your best interests. But, on top of that, it’s best to hire a car accident lawyer from the very beginning. That way, you can have peace of mind knowing they can protect your rights and ensure a better outcome for your case.
