No one wants to be involved in a car accident, especially when they have been injured due to the crash.
However, car accidents happen a lot and in most cases could have been prevented. If you have been involved in a car accident here are the top 10 things that you should NOT DO following your accident.
- Fail to employ an experienced personal injury legal representative as soon as possible.
- Believe in an insurance adjuster who tells you that insurance companies are your buddies.
- Think that personal injury claims are solved fairly or rapidly by the insurer.
- Believe that you don’t require to notify the DMV of the accident.
- Believe that a police report won’t help your case.
- Think that your insurance company will pay the extra cost to repair your damaged car.
- Believe that the other driver’s insurance provider will pay for car rental insurance coverage.
- Think that any insurer will let you rent a car as soon as your automobile has been fixed or you’ve been paid for its value.
- Believe that an insurer will pay for you to purchase a new vehicle.
- Think that an insurance company is really on your side.
10 Useful Tips of Guidance From an Accident Attorney to Follow if You Have Been in a Car Accident
If you have had an accident or if you ever have another accident, or if it’s only been a couple of hours since you were harmed, here’s what you ought to do from the start.
- Determine who is injured
- Ensure Everyone’s safety
- Call the police
- Get the driver’s & witnesses details
- Take photos & videos of the scene
- Get medical treatment immediately
- Hire a personal injury attorney specialized in car accidents
- Report the accident to the insurance company
- Do not agree to settle your claim privately
- Don’t pay the traffic ticket
Determine Who is Injured
First, have a look around and determine if you or anybody, are injured. If so, taking actions like trying to prevent additional injury or loss of blood is the most essential thing you can do.
Even if some other driver caused you to be hurt, it’s just good manners to help the other driver if they are hurt. They may even be so grateful that they confess their fault to you. The worst thing you can do is snap or start a battle.
Ensure Everyone’s Safety
Second, ensure everybody is safe from being injured even more. If you stay in the middle of traffic, and you are lightheaded, step away from traffic.
If your automobile is a traffic threat and you have accident warning devices like flares or triangles, put them out on the road to alert other drivers and get away from the automobile.
Let the police and other emergency workers investigate the scene with the vehicles in place and move them more securely at a later point.
Call The Police
Third, call the police. Mishap reports are incredibly helpful if the authorities will do such a report. Let the police understand you are injured right away. Answer the police questions truthfully. But if you are dazed or confused, let them know you require medical treatment and answer only what you feel sure about.
Remember, your statements can and will be utilized against you if you admit fault, and it will be far too late and too fishy to later say you didn’t know what you were saying at the scene. Cops understand that your best recollection is instantly after an accident.
Get The Driver’s & Witness’s Details
Fourth, get the other driver’s details including their names, addresses, motorist’s license numbers, make and design of their cars, license plate numbers, and their insurance company name and policy number.
If there are witnesses, get their names, addresses, and telephone numbers also. If the other driver makes any admissions of fault, write those down too.
Take Photos & Videos of The Scene
Fifth, if you have a video camera on your cell phone or in the automobile and you aren’t too hurt, take some pictures of the automobiles and the scene. If you can’t do it immediately, do it after you are released from the medical center.
Get Medical Treatment Immediately
Sixth, if you are hurt, obtain medical treatment. Don’t decline the ambulance or medical facility evaluation to conserve your insurer money or to be stoic.
Take your belongings out of your car if you can and let the medical facility take a look at your injuries. If you are not hurt, do not get the treatment you don’t require.
Nevertheless, keep in mind, after an accident, you might feel a rush of adrenaline that causes you only to start feeling symptoms of pain a few hours later. If you have a health plan requiring permission first, call them and discover where you are allowed to look for treatment.
Hire a Personal Injury Attorney Specializing in Car Accidents
Seventh, call a great accident lawyer as quickly as possible once you have had your initial treatment, so the lawyer can collect other crucial proof and prevent the insurer from taking advantage of you and getting such things as taped statements that you feel great when a number of your signs have yet to manifest themselves.
A great personal injury lawyer can save you from making a lot of errors and can take on much of the hassle of understanding what to do about car and truck repair work, car leasings, medical treatment, witness declarations, and the like.
If you believe you will save money by not having a lawyer, reconsider. A great personal injury attorney can almost always obtain much greater settlements, reduce medical bills and insurance liens and prevent you from making costly mistakes.
Likewise, most personal injury attorneys are only paid once they have won your case.
Report The Accident To The Insurance Company
Eighth, you will need to report the mishap to your insurance company, but since they will want to take a recorded statement from you, similar to any other driver’s insurance company, it’s in your best interest to have an attorney present.
And if the other driver did not have insurance, remember that your insurer will be your enemy.
You will also need to report the mishap to the Department of Motor Vehicles and your legal representative can give you the form for this.
DO NOT Agree To Settle Your Claim Privately
Ninth, do not agree to settle your claim privately with the individual at fault for the accident. This almost never works out to your advantage.
Do not agree not to call the police. Police reports that determine the fault for an accident are golden. Your agreement to not involve the cops only pays for a chance for the other motorist to alter his/ her story and blame you when the authorities will no longer investigate the accident.
Don’t Pay The Traffic Ticket!
Tenth, don’t pay a traffic ticket without a fight if you weren’t at fault or agree to accept a small payment for your vehicle repairs without knowing that the amount of your settlement will in fact cover the cost of all the repairs.
Don’t Wait Any Longer, Call Us Now!
If you have been involved in a car accident and were injured as a result, call the attorneys at Adley Law Firm. We have the experience and knowledge and can guarantee you are appropriately represented and get the settlement you deserve.
Call our law office and learn how we can assist you. You can also learn more about how to deal with an accident by calling the Adley Law Firm at (713) 999-8669.
