Road accidents are more common than you think. When getting involved in one, the last thing you want is to respond in a way that causes you to lose your compensation due to not knowing what to do. While there are many things you need to do after a car crash, there are many you should avoid. Insurance companies will take advantage of your confusion in such situations; they want you to fall into the same common mistakes most victims make, losing valid proof for their injuries and failing to receive their deserved compensation. To take the right steps after a road crash and know how to avoid ruining your claim, you must understand the common mistakes usually made after accidents. Here are the main ones.
Leaving the Accident Scene
Leaving the scene after a road accident is referred to as a hit and run. Hit and run laws restrict drivers to stop their cars after a road accident, no matter whose fault it is. You are allowed to move your car to a safer place within the scene but not to leave before waiting for the authorities to arrive. It is a common mistake that most people overlook and are later charged with felony convictions or misdemeanors; this will harm your case and rid you of your compensation rights. Remember to always stop after road accidents and park your car and wait for the police to arrive without talking about the accident or who’s at fault with the other driver involved.
Not Giving Your Injuries Enough Attention
Visiting a doctor after your car accident is one of the most important things you must do. You may not feel any pain immediately after the accident, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t have any injuries. Our bodies release adrenaline when exposed to extreme situations or emotions. This hormone numbs the body or masks its pain to produce more energy and prepare the body for danger; this is why most road accident victims wouldn’t feel their injuries right away and only discover how serious they are much later after they have already filed a police report. Personal injury attorneys from https://advicelineinjurylawyers.com.au state that the longer you wait to see a doctor for your injuries, the more difficult it will be to prove these injuries were caused by the accident. Even missing a few doctor appointments can cause insurance companies not to take your claim seriously or assume your injuries are not as severe as you claim them to be.
Admitting Fault for the Accident
After you get involved in a car accident, you might feel the urge to apologize to make the other driver feel better. You might also want to do this to resolve things quickly and get on with your life. Even if you feel that you caused the accident in the slightest way, you must wait for your lawyer or personal attorney to do the talking for you. Apologizing or saying “I’m sorry” can be used against you by insurance companies; normally, their goal will be to deprive you of your compensation rights and reject your claim. Even worse, your words can be used against you in court to prove you admitted guilt at the scene. Therefore, apologizing or talking about whose fault it was with the other driver is never a good idea. It’s best not to talk until you meet your lawyer and have them assess the accident and talk for you.
Not Reporting the Accident
The worst thing you can do after getting involved in an accident is not reporting it to the police. If you don’t report your case, you will face the other driver’s insurance company on your own without valid legal documentation. Not obtaining the police officer’s documentation of the accident will not help your personal injury claim. Report the accident as soon as it happens and get a copy of the report from the police officer handling the investigation.
To avoid making these mistakes after a car crash, remember that you don’t want to make it easy for the other driver’s insurance company to reject your claim or prove you guilty. Therefore, avoid talking with the other party entirely to prevent anything from being used against you. It’s also important to report the case and document everything at the accident scene. The information you collect will come in handy when you are building your insurance compensation claim. Accidents are stressful for all parties involved, so ensure that your case is handled as efficiently and effortlessly.
