Car accidents can happen every day, without a warning. When you get involved in one, the chances are that you will suffer multiple injuries, which will affect your life in general.
Most car accidents occur as a result of:
- Distraction
- Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol
- Speeding
- Road rage
- Tailgating
- Using the smartphone while driving
If you have been injured as a result of a car accident, you may be eligible to file a claim against the party responsible for causing the accident. But know that there are certain actions that could ruin your car accident claim.
Here are the most common mistakes that you should avoid following a car accident.
Not Getting Medical Attention
The worst thing that you can do is avoid going to the hospital. Not only will you not get treated immediately for your injuries, but you will also lose the only proof that you have that you received injuries from that particular accident.
When a doctor takes care of your injuries right after the accident, those injuries will be documented in the doctor’s report. You will later be able to use the report as evidence proving that you sustained those injuries from a car accident and seek compensation for it.
Leaving The Scene
After getting involved in a car accident, you should never leave the scene before the police arrive. Doing that will put suspicion on you, even if you are a victim. Instead, remain on the scene and wait for the ambulance and the police to arrive. Once they are done questioning you, you can proceed to the hospital.
Lying To The Police
Never lie to a police officer about the accident or how it came to be. Even if you are considering lying to your own advantage, do not do it. The investigators will uncover the truth, and if they find out that you lied to the police, your story and/or evidence will lose all value.
Instead, keep your story straight and tell them everything that happened from your point of view. Be as thorough and concise as you can, and do not skip the details.
Not Contacting Your Lawyer
If you do not contact your attorney right after the accident, it will be one mistake that will cost you a lot of money, which you cannot afford to lose. Many people make this mistake and believe that they do not need an attorney. As a result, they end up getting compensated partially and do not even get enough to cover all their medical bills.
Do not let that happen to you! Call your attorney right away and request legal help and representation.
Giving Too Much Information To The Other Party’s Insurance Company
Believe it or not, but the more you talk with the other party’s insurance representatives, the more chances you have of ruining your case. The insurance adjusters will be all over you, looking for a single piece of information that can be used against you. Whether they get you to admit guilt (even partial guilt) or get you to sign a recorded statement, or give a statement in which you say something that you should not, it can and it will be used against you. And before you know it, your car accident case will be worthless.
Do not speak to the insurance adjusters before seeking advice with your attorney. It can ruin your case completely and leave you with too many bills to pay.
Going On Social Media
People love to tweet and post statuses on Facebook about their lives and events that took place. And even though you may feel like posting a status about your accident is a good idea, it is not. In reality, everything you say (or write on social media) can be used against you in the court of law. Therefore, you should know that the insurance company will monitor every action that you take, trying to find even the slightest mistake that they can use against you.
Even if you get tagged in a post where you were out with some friends, they can use it as proof that you are actually not injured and deny your medical benefits.
Stay off social media for as long as you can, or at least until you settle with the insurance company.
Avoid the “Small talk”
Right after getting injured, you will be taken to the hospital. The nurse inside will try and engage with you in a conversation, to see if you had any head or brain damage. After you are taken care of, there is a high chance that the doctor will engage you in a conversation to try and find out how you feel. And even though this may seem irrelevant to you, the fact is that the doctor may write everything down in their report. So saying something like “it is nothing, I am fine” can jeopardize your case. Rest assured that the insurance adjusters will look through those records and try and find anything that will help them reduce or completely deny your compensation.
With that in mind, be careful what you say and pay attention to who you are speaking with. Making damaging statements to a doctor, nurse, assistant or a staff member can and will most likely damage your claim.
