Car accidents are traumatic events that may occur to anybody. However, doing the wrong thing after an accident might exacerbate an awful situation. After an accident, taking the wrong decision might be the difference between receiving the compensation you deserve and having to pay for the harm caused by others. You might have seen posts like ‘What to Do After a Car Accident,’ but this one will focus on what not to do after an accident.
1. Leave the Accident Scene
If you are involved in a car accident, you should never leave the accident scene. If there is an injury, stay with that person until help comes. If there is no injury, stay with the vehicle until your information is exchanged and a police report is taken. Sometimes people leave because they fear being arrested for a hit-and-run, but you should never leave the scene of an accident that involves injury or death.
It is against the law in Nevada to leave the scene of an accident, regardless of whether you were at fault or not. NRS 484E.020 specifies that any driver engaged in an accident that causes property damage “shall immediately stop their vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close as possible. They shall then return to, and in every event shall remain at, the scene of the accident until they have fulfilled the requirements of NRS 484E.010.”
2. Fail to Call 911
Calling 911 is not an option; it is mandatory after a car accident. If you need help, call the police. The last thing you want to happen is for others to call on your behalf because it will be recorded on the report as being the responsible party. It will also hold up your claim if you have to wait for more than an hour for the police to arrive.
Some people believe that 911 should only be used if someone is injured in an accident. That’s not correct. After being in an accident, you should always contact 911. The police can also assist in determining who was at fault in the incident. Following a crash, police will often inspect the scene, evaluate road conditions, consult with witnesses, and then issue a report detailing how the crash happened and who was to blame. The report might be significant in any case that arises due to the accident.
3. Forget to Exchange Information
After a car accident, you have to exchange information with the other parties involved. This includes your name, address, and driver’s license number. You should also get their contact information, including names, addresses, and drivers’ license numbers, on top of exchanging insurance information. If you can’t do this at the scene, make sure you get it later. This will help you in case the other party flees or if there are any disputes about what occurred during the accident. You should also get the name, address, and driver’s license number of any witness to the accident.
4. Underestimate Your Injuries
Common car accident injuries include whiplash, neck injuries, back injuries, broken bones, and brain damage. If you have been in a car accident, it is important to get medical attention immediately. You should visit your doctor within 48 hours if you have not done so already.
This might seem like common sense, but many people don’t understand how much trauma their body has been through. A car accident is a traumatic event, and it might take a while before you realize the extent of your injuries. It’s important to pay attention to the signs and symptoms of a car accident injury, have them checked out immediately by a doctor, and follow up with treatment if necessary.
5. Quickly Admit Fault
It is always assumed that you are not to blame for the accident until it is proven otherwise in court. If you tell your insurance company that it was your fault, they could use this against you when determining how much compensation you deserve. It is usually best not to admit any fault before consulting with a lawyer.
For example, if you caused an accident and injured another person, it is in your best interest to wait until the police report comes out before saying that you were at Fault. If there was no one else involved, but you still think you might be responsible for the crash, contact a lawyer before making any statements about who was to blame.
6. Fail to Obtain Evidence
It is important to get as much evidence of the car crash as possible. Witnesses and other drivers involved in your crash should be asked for their contact information. Make sure that you collect all relevant information from them if they are willing to provide it. You can also file an official police report which will come in handy when determining who was to blame. In addition to collecting evidence from the accident scene, you also need to collect medical records and receipts that show that your injuries have been treated or incurred costs. This will be necessary to get compensation for your financial losses.
7. Speak to the Insurance Company of the Other Party
It is a common misconception that you must contact the other party’s insurance company. In some cases, this might be true, but before contacting them, it’s important to get in touch with a lawyer first. You need to speak with a personal injury attorney because they will know exactly what information needs to be presented and how you should communicate with the insurance company.
8. Forget to Contact Your Insurance Provider
If you were not at fault for the accident, you should immediately contact your insurance company. They will assess your situation and assist with getting compensation for your injuries. It is also important that you report any damage done to your car as soon as possible so that it can be fixed or replaced.
9. Refuse to Hire a Lawyer
It is a good idea to hire a personal injury lawyer if you have been in an accident. If money has been lost, or you’ve incurred medical expenses, not hiring a lawyer could cost you more money in the long run. Lawyers will charge no fee unless they collect compensation for your injuries.
Following an accident, some people try to manage their cases independently. This is a tremendous blunder. An attorney can assist you with every element of the aftermath of an accident. The insurance company for the other motorist in the collision cannot contact you directly once you employ an attorney. They must instead call your lawyer. Even your own insurance company is guilty of this. While you must always comply with your insurance provider, they must do so through your attorney.
10. Lie to Your Lawyer
You must be honest with your attorney. This means disclosing any medical conditions that may have caused or increased the severity of your injuries. It also means disclosing all relevant information about what happened during the accident, even if it incriminates you. Being dishonest with your lawyer can result in them not representing you properly and can ultimately be detrimental to your case.
It’s important to note that if you do not cooperate with your attorney, they cannot help you build a strong case. If they don’t have all the information they need, it will be difficult for them to properly assess the strength of your claim and negotiate an adequate settlement on your behalf.
