When you suddenly find yourself involved in an auto accident, confusion will begin to swirl. Along with telling police what happened, you will also be dealing with insurance companies, doctors, and others as well. As a result, you may inadvertently say or do something along the way that harms your ability to have a successful personal injury claim. To make sure this does not happen, contact an auto accident attorney to learn what you should and should not do following your auto accident.
Delaying Medical Treatment
If you want to give insurance companies and the other driver’s lawyers a victory on a silver platter, have a significant delay in seeking medical treatment following your auto accident. In many cases, accident victims think they are not seriously injured, only to discover days or weeks later they suffered concussions, whiplash, or serious back injuries. However, by delaying treatment, it becomes harder to prove these injuries were a result of the auto accident. Therefore, along with getting medical treatment at the scene, also seek treatment from doctors as quickly as possible.
Admitting Fault for the Accident
When at the accident scene you will be talking to many people, including:
- Police
- Paramedics
- Other Drivers
- Witnesses
When having conversations with these individuals, it is critical you never say anything that remotely implies you are admitting the accident was your fault. Believe it or not, saying something like “I am sorry” may be used against you by police and insurance companies to show you admitted fault for the accident. Therefore, while you should try to cooperate as much as possible with police and others, also be very careful when choosing your words.
Failing to Gather Evidence
When at the accident scene, always try to gather together as much evidence as possible about the accident. For example, use your smartphone to take pictures of vehicle damage, skid marks on the road, and traffic signs and signals nearby that may be crucial in showing the other driver was at fault. If you do not do this, you make it much harder for your auto accident lawyer to prove your case in court.
Delay in Hiring an Attorney
Last but certainly not least, you should never procrastinate in hiring an attorney to represent you after being involved in an auto accident. If you do, you will likely make mistakes when dealing with insurance companies, such as accepting a quick settlement for far less money than you need and deserve to pay for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Therefore, always make sure that as soon as possible after your accident, you hire the services of an experienced and knowledgeable auto accident attorney.
Though your life will be hectic upon being involved in an auto accident, being able to use common sense and good judgment along the way will prevent you from making many of the above-mentioned mistakes. To discuss your case and learn how to get the compensation you deserve, contact an auto accident lawyer at once.