A car accident happens in an instant of misjudgment. A driver thinks that speeding will help them get to their destination faster, but they lose control of their car and collide with another vehicle.
A driver can also take their eye off the road to read a text on their phone and drift into another car. Those seconds of misjudgment can lead to months or years of physical and emotional trauma.
If you’re the unfortunate victim of a car accident, you’ll experience a form of shock in the immediate aftermath that can leave you disoriented. When things calm down, you can assess the damage and any potential injuries. When another driver’s negligence causes that car accident, you’re entitled to seek compensation.
That’s where the skills of an experienced attorney at McCoy & Hiestand, PLC, come into play.
We help victims of car accidents pursue a claim to recover their losses. It helps when they take proactive steps in the aftermath of an accident to provide support for their claim. However, there are also common mistakes after a car accident that can impact your claim.
Here are 8 mistakes to avoid after a car accident:
Not Seeing a Doctor
Walking away from a car accident is not the same thing as not being injured. There are some conditions, like whiplash, concussion, or internal injuries, that have symptoms that might not show up for days after the accident. What started as a treatable injury can quickly devolve into a serious ailment.
That is why you should see a doctor at least within 24 hours of the accident so that they can rule out any serious injury.
Not Reporting the Accident to the Police
In Kentucky, drivers are required to report any accident that results in injuries or damages exceeding $500 to the police. You might not know about the extent of your damages or your injuries in the moments immediately following the accident, but that shouldn’t prevent you from contacting the police to file a report.
Even if the police don’t show up at the accident, you should still file the report to document what happened. This might not be the final resolution, but it can document the time, location, and parties involved.
Making Recorded Statements to an Insurance Adjuster Without Legal Representation
Once an accident occurs, motorists must report the incident to their insurance company.
That might not involve filing a claim, but just providing the carrier with information. After that, an insurance adjuster may contact you to take your statement, which could be recorded.
You should not consent to providing a statement without legal representation. Anything you say could be used against you.
Failing to Follow Prescribed Medical Treatment
A doctor could prescribe you a course of ten weeks of physical therapy. After week six, you could feel good and think that you don’t need the remaining four weeks. However, if you don’t follow the prescribed medical treatment, your injury could worsen.
Also, the insurance company can use that as proof that your injuries aren’t as severe as you claimed.
Discussing the Accident on Social Media
Most of us who have social media accounts enjoy sharing what’s happening in our lives.
Recovering from an accident would be a huge event to share. Unfortunately, the insurance company will scrutinize those posts in an effort to discredit your account of the accident.
For instance, if you post that you’re having a great time at a party, it could be used against you.
Admitting Fault
Right after the accident, you might be inclined to say, “I’m sorry,” even if the accident wasn’t your fault. You could just be expressing the fact that you are indeed sorry this happened.
However, that can be used as an admission of guilt on your part.
Not Gathering Evidence at the Scene
You will have a limited amount of time at the accident scene before it is cleaned up. That’s why you need to take as many photos and videos as possible.
It is also important to obtain contact information for any witnesses, as once they leave the scene, you may not have a way of contacting them again.
Waiting Too Long to Contact an Attorney
Some car accidents can be handled quickly by the drivers. Other collisions can be more complicated, such as a truck accident. That is why you need to contact experienced attorneys as soon as possible after your accident.
The lawyers at McCoy & Hiestand, PLC, understand how to support a car accident claim and pursue a remedy.
We can help provide information about the proper steps to take after an accident and how to follow through for the best results. If you’ve been involved in an accident, we want to hear from you.
Call to set up a consultation today and get the right answers to your questions.
