A car accident can be a terrible experience, even fatal for your loved one. There are certain things you ought to do when in a car accident, like contacting your insurance company, seeking prompt medical treatment, and discussing your case with a car accident attorney. However, there are other steps you must not do when a car accident. After a car accident, avoid these common missteps to protect yourself and your legal rights:
- Do Not Leave The Scene
The law requires anyone who has been in a car accident involving injury, death, or property damage to instantly stop their vehicle. If you fail to do this and leave the scene of a car accident, you could be charged with a crime.
You should never leave the car accident scene. Call 911, and wait till the police arrive to take a police report. If anyone wants medical help, police can dispatch emergency medical personnel to the scene of the car accident.
- Do Not Forget to Call 911
Some people mistakenly believe that it is OK not to make a call to 911 if no one is hurt during a car accident. This is not true. If you are involved in a car accident, no matter how serious the accident was, you should call 911.
A police report will be crucial to establishing who was guilty of causing the accident if a court case comes up. A police report details essential information regarding the car accident, as well as road conditions, provides names of those involved and witness accounts and gives an official write-up of how the accident occurred.
- Do Not Lose Your Cool
A car accident is a disconcerting experience. After a car accident, your emotions are probably running high. Never lose your cool and become angry or upset with the other parties involved, even if the accident was their fault.
Keep calm and see that everybody who was concerned in the car accident gets the assistance they need.
- Do Not Forget to Document The Car Accident
Before leaving the car accident scene, take down the maximum amount of information regarding the accident as possible. If you have a camera or a mobile phone with a camera, take photos of the scene of the crash. Take down the names and other information of all parties involved in the accident, besides information regarding their insurance companies. If there are witnesses, ask them to write down a brief statement regarding what they saw. Ask their names and contact information.
You should also take down details regarding the time and date of the accident, as well as conditions like rain or snow if they were present. Record license plate numbers and other vital information.
If you forget to document a car accident, it will be tough to prove what happened in court should you or another party file a lawsuit. Your insurance company also will need to get this information, but you should let your attorney talk to them.
- Never Apologize or Admit Fault
Never apologize for an accident at the scene. Do not admit fault, especially in communication with insurance companies. It is best to be honest regarding the crash and tell police precisely what happened. If you apologize to the third party, the insurance company might use your statement against you to avoid paying for the damages.
- Do Not Agree to An Unfair Settlement
Refrain from moving into settlement negotiations without the assistance of an attorney. Such discussions involve intricate legal clauses that you might not be aware of.
- Decline to Hire An Attorney
If you were involved in a car accident where someone was injured, or with severe property damage, hire an attorney. An attorney who specializes in personal injury law and vehicle accidents can help you win enough money that all your medical and auto repair bills are covered, your missed pay is covered, you get compensated for pain and suffering, and you can recover your health as much as possible.
The experienced Krasney Law car accident lawyers can fight to defend your legal rights and pursue all available forms of compensation for your injuries.
If you have any queries about what you should or should not do after a car crash, contact a personal injury law firm and find out how they can defend you and help you get the cash award you need to recover.
