Car accidents are far too common and affect millions of families each year. Doing the wrong things after an accident could make this trying time in your life even tougher. The decision made after an accident could spell out the difference between recuperating your losses or being found at-fault for an accident.
If you’ve been injured in a car crash, personal injury experts recommend having a free consultation with a car accident lawyer that can help you find answers about how to proceed in your case.
Each accident is different but there are certain things you should always do after a car accident, such as contacting your insurer, seeking medical care, and discussing your case with a qualified attorney. However, a seasoned car accident lawyer recommends avoiding the following actions after a car accident:
Leave The Scene of the Accident
If you flee the scene of an accident, after getting into a car crash, then you’ve just committed a crime. If you’ve been involved in an auto accident, stop, and assess the situation for injuries, and damages. Failing to stop at the accident scene can be punishable as a misdemeanor or felony charge and may leave you at fault for not providing aid or assistance to others.
Regardless of whether you were at fault or not in the accident, if you are involved in an accident, stop your vehicle. When it is safe to do so, pull your vehicle to the side of the road to protect other drivers and yourself. Some states legally require you to move your vehicle off the road when it is safe.
Refuse To Report Your Accident To The Police
Always calling 911 after an accident is a good habit. When it comes to your car accident case, courts use police reports to establish fault in the accident. Once a police officer investigates the crash, road conditions, and speaks with witnesses, they can provide a report that details how the accident occurred and this may be helpful for your car accident settlement.
The police report could be a vital component to recuperating losses in your case. Police will also help ensure that information is exchanged properly between drivers. Police can help aid in moving vehicles safely off the road and help direct traffic after the collision.
Avoid Medical Attention
Getting checked out by a doctor after an accident could prove very beneficial to your car accident claim. When you or a passenger has been left with noticeable injuries after a motor vehicle collision, consider going to a medical center to get treated.
Not all car accident injuries are immediately noticeable and can worsen when left untreated. Whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, and nerve damage may not display any major symptoms until hours or days afterward.
Insurance adjusters typically require their clients to seek medical treatment within a certain amount of time after an accident to have their expenses eligible for personal injury protection coverage.
If you’re unsure whether someone’s injuries serious, but they appear to be out of it, practice safety first by calling for emergency medical attention. If serious injuries are left untreated they may cause injuries to worsen.
Not Hiring An Attorney
Some individuals want to handle their car accident claim on their own and this could be a huge mistake. If you live in the Atlanta area you will want an Atlanta Injury Lawyer. An experienced auto accident attorney will know the proper steps to take after the accident and could help make every aspect of the aftermath of a collision easier to handle. Avoid speaking to the other driver’s insurance company without consulting a car accident lawyer.
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