Ask a Car Accident Lawyer: 7 Mistakes to Avoid After an Accident

When you’ve been in a car accident, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment. Oftentimes, drivers who have been in an accident are distressed and unsure of what their first steps should be. This is the time when you are most likely to make a mistake that could potentially make it difficult for you to make your case if you are injured or seeking compensation. Here are a few of the most common mistakes to avoid before you contact your car accident lawyer in San Antonio.

Ask a Car Accident Lawyer: 7 Mistakes to Avoid After an Accident

1. Not Calling the Police and a Car Accident Lawyer in San Antonio

If you want the best chance of winning your case, you need to start documenting what happened immediately. The first step should always be to call the police and make a report. They will take your report along with pictures of the accident and information from everyone else involved, along with any witnesses who have stopped to help. This is your best chance to gather the most accurate information possible from all parties.

2. Leaving the Scene

Leaving the scene of the accident without filing a report, taking any pictures, or even speaking to the other driver is a big mistake. You may move your vehicle out of the way of traffic, but do not leave the scene without being sure that a report has been filed, otherwise you could be liable under Texas’s hit and run laws. If the other party leaves the scene, make sure to write down whatever you can about their vehicle as soon as possible.

3. Not Taking Pictures

Nearly everyone has a cell phone at their disposal these days, and that’s a good thing. As soon as an accident happens, take pictures of the damage along with the final resting place of all vehicles involved so that you have plenty of information when it comes time to determine who is at fault. You can’t take too many pictures, so get every angle.

4. Admitting Fault

In the rush to make sure everyone is okay and exchanging contact information, you may find yourself apologizing or talking too much. Slow down and make sure that you are not admitting fault for your part in the accident at any point. Admissions of fault can be used against you in court, waiving your right to seek compensation, even if you do not realize that your words insinuated that you were taking the blame. Don’t make any admissions until you’ve spoken to your car accident lawyer in San Antonio. 

5. Skipping the Doctor

Depending on the severity of the accident, you may or may not be seen by an emergency medical team. Even if the accident is not severe enough to warrant an ambulance ride, you should always agree to get looked out by a medical responder or seek out a medical evaluation from your primary care doctor immediately. Oftentimes, injuries related to seemingly minor accidents can take a few days to become apparent.

If you don’t see a doctor immediately, you could miss a crucial opportunity to begin gathering documentation of your injury for future compensation. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to prove that your sore neck or injured shoulder was caused as a direct result of the accident and not something else.

6. Not Contacting Your Insurance Company

Regardless of who is at fault for the accident, you need to make your insurance company aware of the situation. Opening a claim within 24 hours is the best way to ensure that insurance does cover as much of your expenses as possible. If you are not at fault, your insurance company will help you go after the other driver. If you are found to be at fault, you may find yourself locked in a battle with them over what they owe you.  

Either way, your policy will include instructions for how to submit a claim and how soon it has to be filed. Missing the deadline might mean that they can refuse coverage or end your policy altogether, leaving you unprotected.

7. Talking Too Much

The final mistake is sharing too much information about your accident with people around you. While your natural instinct may be to share your story with anyone who will listen, you could be opening yourself up to bigger problems in the future. Write down the details you remember, keep a journal of how you are feeling, any hardships caused by the accident, unexpected expenses, and anything else that comes up. Don’t go to social media and start sharing details or exaggerating your story, because you might be poking holes in your own case.  

If you’ve been in an accident, it is always best to contact a lawyer right away. Your personal injury lawyer will help you gather the evidence you need to protect yourself and seek compensation.