Posted on January 30, 2018

For some, it is obvious what you should do after you are involved in a serious car accident. It makes sense for you to assess the situation and check yourself for injuries immediately following an accident. It also makes sense to call the police so that you can file a report as well as gain help after your accident. But, when an accident actually happens, we start to stress and sometimes that stress can skew matters. In those cases, we may say or do things that should never be said and done after an accident. Today we will focus on the things you should and should not do after an accident.

What You Shouldn’t Do 

serious car accident Leave the Scene: If you are involved in an accident and you decide to flee the scene in a moment of panic, you have just committed a hit and run crime and you could be charged. You should only leave after a serious car accident when you have been cleared by law enforcement to do so. If you are in an accident and law enforcement does not come to the scene, you should still report the accident over the phone, because a dispatcher at 911 services will determine whether or not an officer should come to the scene or not. 

Leave Your Car in the Middle: If your car is in the middle of the road after an accident, you should never leave it there unless it is unsafe to move it. Moving the car could put you out of harm’s way and prevent traffic jams.

Leave Without Info: You don’t want to leave without information from other witnesses at the scene of the accident. They may be able to piece together information that you weren’t able to gather yourself. Many will give you their personal information so that they can be contacted. 

Talk to Another Insurance Company: An insurance company may try to contact you soon after the accident, but don’t let that throw you off. You should not give them any details, but instead turn to your attorney for more information on how to proceed.

What You Shouldn’t Say

No Injuries: You don’t ever want to tell the other driver(s) “I’m doing fine” because at that point, you don’t know if you have any serious injuries or not in some cases. You may find out many weeks or months later that you are suffering from injuries, and you want to ensure that you are gaining as much recovery as possible later down the line. 

Sorry: Never apologize to the other driver, because this is admitting fault. Many people do not know the facts that led to the accident until many other aspects are identified. Later, you want to be able to claim for damages, so never admit fault under any circumstances.

Blame: Do not blame the other party for the accident, even if you are feeling angry. The police, witnesses, and insurance companies will come together and take care of these matters. You should always calmly provide as many details as you can about the accident, because it will help you later. 

Speculation: If you are not aware of certain aspects in the accident, you should probably not mention them. For example, you aren’t exactly sure how fast a car is going. You might be able to make an estimate, but this is not always correct. Others will be investigating the accident and may have specific questions for you.

As you can see, there are many things you should and should not do in the event of a car accident. If you have been injured by another party in a car accident and have questions for us, turn to us at the Accident Law Group today. We will help you get started on your claim for damages. Call us as soon as possible at 602-262-4254.

Sources

https://resources.lawinfo.com/auto-accident/dont-say-this-after-a-car-accident.html