The aftermath of a car accident can be a stressful time. You may be dealing with injuries, insurance companies, and other issues while trying to get back on track with your life. For many people involved in an accident, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by all the steps you must take. Below are common mistakes that most victims make when dealing with their car accidents.
- Failing to Report the Accident to the police
One of the most common mistakes made by car accident victims is failing to report the incident to the police. In many states, calling 911 and reporting an accident is actually required by law. By doing this, you help ensure that if you need to file an insurance claim, later on, all of the necessary documentation will be there for your case. This documentation will help your case when determining liability in a car accident.
Police officers can also help with other things like getting medical care for injuries sustained in a crash and contacting witnesses who may have seen what happened and might want to file their own reports.
- Not seeking medical treatment
You must get medical treatment following your car accident. Your injuries may not be immediately apparent, and the longer you wait to seek treatment, the more difficult it will be for your doctor to assess your condition properly.
It would help if you also asked for a written report from any treating health professional, as this can help with any future claim or legal action against an at-fault driver or other parties about an accident where they contributed to causing personal injury.
In cases where another party commits road traffic offenses like driving under the influence, their insurance company will likely want evidence. They need this to properly assess whether the incident was avoidable and whether compensation should be paid out by them rather than their policyholder.
- Not hiring a lawyer
You should also hire an attorney if you want to make sure that the insurance company really covers all of your expenses. A good lawyer will work with you to ensure that you receive fair and honest compensation for everything that’s happened due to the accident.
Besides helping with determining liability in a car accident, a good lawyer will help you fix your car, which is essential because most insurers won’t cover any damage unless it occurs during an accident. The lawyer may also be able to negotiate on your behalf so that you can have a brand-new vehicle instead of just repairing it.
- Not documenting the scene
If you’re in a car accident, your first instinct may be to get out of the car and check on everyone involved. This is a good instinct. But don’t forget about documenting everything that happened as soon as possible. Take pictures of the accident scene, including photos of any damage to your vehicle and any other vehicles involved.
It can also help if you take pictures or videos of your own body and any injuries sustained during an accident. If witnesses around seem helpful, ask them for their contact information so that they can be contacted later by insurance companies or lawyers if necessary, but only do this with their consent.
Conclusion
You should not feel limited by any past negative experiences you may have had with the police or lawyers. You can still seek compensation and justice for your losses. In addition, many people will help you during this difficult time which is why we encourage anyone who an uninsured driver has injured to contact us today.