Anyone who has been involved in a car accident knows that it can be an extremely traumatizing and painful experience. Accidents can cause all kinds of physical injuries, as well as emotional trauma and financial costs. Despite the precautions which many of us take, the number of car accidents is increasing year on year. If you have been involved in a vehicle accident, it is vital that you ensure that you do the right things to give yourself the best chance of recovery. You may be eligible for compensation to pay for your injuries and vehicle damage and in order to get this compensation, there are certain steps you need to take. Few people know exactly what to do following an accident so they end up doing the wrong thing which jeopardizes their recovery and compensation case.
To help the victims of accidents move on with their lives, here are 5 mistakes you need to avoid when involved in an accident.
Not Taking Care of Your Injuries
It is so important that you seek immediate medical care after an accident but there are so many people who don’t. Because of the effects of shock and adrenaline, many victims of accidents don’t feel any pain even though they are injured. No matter how the accident occured, it is vital that you have your injuries treated straight away to give yourself the best possible chance of making a full and fast recovery. Having your injuries assessed immediately will also provide you with the medical reports you may need to use for evidence. If you wait too long to obtain these, they may not be allowed as evidence as the other party can claim that you were injured after the accident.
Trying to Represent Yourself
The law is very complicated, and even a seemingly simple accident compensation case is impossible for most of us to represent ourselves. Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer is advantageous for so many reasons. One car accident lawyer Greeneville explains that there is so much to prepare for a compensation case following an accident and that all the pressure of the case can be a huge burden. An experienced lawyer will gather all your evidence, fill out the paperwork and ensure that your case is fully prepared. Following an accident, the responsible party will often offer an out of court settlement to solve the dispute quickly and your lawyer will be able to tell you what is a fair offer based on their experience of similar cases.
Not Reporting the Incident
Whilst dealing with the police is rarely fun, it is very important to do so when there has been a big accident. They will protect the rights of everyone involved, close off the road so that injured people can receive treatment and take statements about what happened. These statements can then be obtained by your attorney to use as contemporaneous evidence in your case. Police reports and witness statements are some of the most useful evidence you can present in court and will dramatically enhance your chances of an outcome in your favor.
Leaving the Scene of the Accident
Whilst you can make mistakes following an accident due to confusion or shock, it is important to note that leaving the scene is a crime, particularly if there have been injuries and damages caused by the incident. Following an accident, it is your responsibility to exchange personal and insurance information with the other party or to wait for the police to come and take charge of the situation. Without this exchange, it can be impossible for insurance companies and courts to work out exactly what happened and who was involved. If someone else flees from the scene, make a note
of their license plate number and give it to the police so they can track them down.
Admitting Responsibility for the Accident
Even if you are positive that you caused the accident, you should never admit responsibility to the other people involved. This can put you in danger of the other parties suing you for exorbitant amounts because you have already accepted blame. It is ultimately the court’s decision as to who was responsible so just exchange details and then speak to your attorneys.
Accidents can happen to anybody at any time so it is really important that you protect yourself and stay safe following an accident. The decisions you make immediately after a traumatic event can be poorly judged because of shock or emotion. Be sure to follow this guide if you are involved in an accident and you will have the best chance of a positive conclusion.
