Being involved in a car crash is often overwhelming and disorienting. However, despite the chaos of the situation, you should try to stay calm and avoid mistakes that could harm your ability to win a personal injury case.
As an experienced Colorado car accident attorney group, we’ve seen countless people make mistakes that cost them when it’s time to make a claim. Sadly, most people don’t know that their actions can impact their compensation. That’s exactly why we’ve assembled this list of five mistakes to avoid after a car accident:
1. Don't Leave the Scene and Be Sure to Get Photos
Be sure to take photos to document the scene. If you are too injured to do this yourself, ask a friend or family member to assist you where possible. In your photos, try to capture the positions of the vehicles, your injuries, and any other important details of the scene.
Unless you’ve been taken to a hospital by ambulance, stay put until everything is documented. If you leave the scene of an accident before officers arrive and take your information, you may be criminally charged.
Leaving the scene of an accident also prevents you from giving your account to the responding officer. During a personal injury case, lawyers will review everyone’s statements – yours, the other driver’s and those of any witnesses. Using the information in these statements, they can draw clearer pictures of who was at fault for the accident. If you don’t give your side of the story, the other party could claim you were at fault for the accident.
2. Don't Skip Medical Treatment
Getting medical treatment immediately following an accident will be essential in your personal injury case. In many instances, a victim of a car crash will need to seek help right away for urgent injuries. However, even if you don’t feel hurt, we advise you to seek medical attention after an accident. Many car accident injuries, like whiplash and soft tissue damage, take a while to show up.
Additionally, going to a doctor immediately enables you to have your injuries documented by a professional. With this information in hand, it becomes nearly impossible for legal opponents to claim that you weren’t harmed in the wreck.
It is also extremely important to continue to get the care recommended by your treating doctor. This not only improves your chances of recovering from your injuries, but it is vital to your personal injury case.
3. Don't Admit Fault
It’s human nature when a collision happens to say you’re sorry, even if you did nothing wrong. It’s important that you temper your instinct to apologize to the other party. Even a small apology could be misconstrued as taking responsibility for the accident. This is one of the biggest mistakes to avoid after a car accident.
An apology or admission of fault can be used against you later by insurance companies and defense attorneys. Even if you think you might have contributed to the accident somehow, wait until all the facts are known before making any statements. Right after the crash, it’s wise to speak to the other driver as little as possible. Just exchange insurance information with them, then let the police, investigators, and attorneys handle the rest.
4. Avoid Posting on Social Media
Today, many people share everything on social media. However, sharing too much can cause serious headaches for your Colorado car accident attorney. You play into your legal opponent’s hands whenever you post photos of the crash, vent your frustrations, or talk about the accident at all. Even the mere act of posting something innocuous, like a photo of you getting dinner with friends, can be used to claim that your injuries weren’t serious.
When in doubt, stay off social media as much as you can until your case is resolved. You can still message friends privately or scroll through social media feeds, of course. Just don’t talk about the crash or case until it’s complete. If you can’t avoid social media for either personal or professional reasons, consider setting your profile to private and speaking with your attorney first.
5. Don't Negotiate a Settlement Without an Attorney
After your car accident, you may receive a settlement offer from the insurance company. Accepting the first offer is tempting, especially if you’re facing medical bills and other expenses. It might also be tempting to negotiate with the insurance company in an attempt to get a better offer. However, initial settlement offers are often much lower than what you deserve, so even a small increase will feel like a lot more money.
Keep in mind, insurance companies are in the business of paying out as little as possible. They may offer you a quick settlement before you fully understand the extent of your injuries or how much your recovery will cost. An attorney on your side will make sure you don’t get taken advantage of by insurance companies looking to settle with you for much less than you need and deserve.
Contact a Colorado Car Accident Attorney from McDivitt to Help with Your Case
If you’re lucky, you’ll never be involved in a serious injury crash. But should you find yourself in this situation, remember all these mistakes to avoid after a car accident. Avoiding these common blunders can help you win more compensation for your injuries and ensure that you are not held liable for the crash.
Have you already been involved in a car accident? If so, don’t worry. Even if you’ve made some of these mistakes, we can still help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Click the button below to schedule your free consultation with McDivitt Law today.
