What Not to Do After a Car Accident
Do some research online and you’re bound to find thousands of articles telling you what to do after a car accident. But that’s not all you need to know. You should also have an idea of what you should not do after a crash so you can make the process easier and protect your legal rights.
Just like in a criminal case, what you say or do after a car accident can and will be used against you. Insurance companies will use your actions to fight your case. Protect yourself by not doing the following after a crash.
Do Not Put Yourself in Danger
After a crash, you need to remain at the accident scene. However, you should not put yourself in danger. Only pull over when it’s safe to do so. You don’t want to stay in the middle of traffic and cause another accident (which happens quite often).
Do Not Admit Fault
This is a big one. Even if you’re pretty sure you’re at fault, don’t admit it. Don’t say anything about what you think happened. You don’t know for sure. Let the insurance company figure it out. Don’t even say “I’m sorry,” as that could be misconstrued as an admission of guilt.
Do Not Overshare Information
With identity theft on the rise, you need to be wary of how much information you give someone. Some people allow others to take photos of their driver’s license, but that might not even be a good idea nowadays. Stick to the following information:
- The driver’s name
- The driver’s vehicle’s information (make, model, color, year, and VIN)
- The vehicle’s license plate number
- The driver’s insurance company, policy number and phone number
Do Not Delay Seeing a Doctor
Even if you don’t think you’re injured, seeing a doctor as soon as possible after a car accident is in your best interest. Sometimes injuries fail to show up right away. Muscle pain and head trauma may not show up for days or even weeks later. The longer you wait, the more likely your insurance company will try to deny your claim. They will claim you must not have been injured if you waited so long to see a doctor.
Do Not Forget to Document the Accident Scene
Take notes of what happened. Write down details of the date, time, location, weather conditions, road conditions, and anything else of importance. Take photos of car damage, injuries, and the surrounding areas of the accident. The more evidence you have, the better.
Contact Us Today
Car accidents can be complex situations. There are a lot of things you should and should not do, so make sure you avoid things that could negatively impact your case.
After a crash, get help from a Mt. Juliet car accident lawyer from The Law Offices of Christopher Eads, PLLC. We’ll guide you through the process with ease. To schedule a consultation, fill out the online form or call (615) 622-6060.
Source:
neamb.com/your-car/3-things-you-should-never-do-if-youre-in-a-car-accident
