Three Mistakes To Avoid Immediately After A Car Accident
Posted on: 26 July 2017
An auto accident can happen suddenly, and often you don't see it coming, especially when you are hit from the rear or the side. After the force and sound of the impact have faded, you are left in a state of panic. You instinctively will ask if your passengers are all right, but after this you may not know what to do next. It is at this time that you may not be thinking clearly and will make mistakes that can hurt you later in your effort to get fair compensation for the accident. The following are a few of these mistakes.
Not calling the police
Laws vary from one state to another, but in most states there is a minimum damage amount that makes it necessary to call the police. There are, however, other factors. Regardless of the damage to your car, if you, your passengers, or passengers in the other car need medical attention or simply want to visit a hospital to get checked out, you need a police report. Without this objective account of the accident, injuries and car damage can be exaggerated at a later time.
Not seeking medical attention right away
If later you find out you have been hurt and then go to a doctor, it can appear like you are either faking the injury or you sustained an injury later, one that was not related to the accident. It is much better to go to a doctor shortly after the accident. This shows that you were concerned about an injury and that you were likely in pain. There are injuries that you may not realize you have until a few days later. Injuries to the neck and back are examples. It is also possible that you could be injured and not be aware of it until a few hours later. The adrenaline flow in your body can suppress pain. Seeing a doctor right away will help your car accident attorney if you need to be compensated for medical problems.
Failing to document the accident
You should not depend upon the police report alone, especially if there are no injuries and the damage to the vehicles involved is not serious enough to require towing. In this situation, you should take pictures of the damage to all of the vehicles involved. People may claim greater damage to the car at a later time, so when you have photos for your attorney or insurance company, it makes the job easier for them.
Your first priority after a car accident is to make sure everyone is all right. Then try to calm down, gather your thoughts, and avoid making the mistakes listed above.
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