What You Shouldn’t do at a Car Accident
We always hear about what we should do when a car accident happens. Car accidents can be extremely overwhelming and cause you or another driver serious injury. This is why it is especially important to consider what you shouldn’t do when a car accident happens, so that you can be prepared for the unfortunate event if it is ever to strike. The truth is, you should always be careful after an accident takes place, especially when speaking about “cause.” If you accidentally determine fault this soon after the accident, you may end up with the evidence stacked against you and have to pay for the accident as well as the other party.
This brings us to our next point: You may actually be wrong. After an accident, you may be in great pain or may not be thinking clearly. Being under great stress may cause you to blurt out anything, such as, “I didn’t see you – I’m so sorry!” But you should always be wary of what you say as to not pin fault on yourself. Only talk to the police officer about how the accident unfolded and what you believe actually happened, and never lie about this.
Not only could the statements at the scene be wrong, but they may also be interpreted wrong. For instance, a witness may hear, “I wasn’t paying attention” instead of “I was paying attention to the road.” Saying, “I’m sorry” could also be an admission of fault for the accident, so you should always watch what you say. You should always calm down and analyze the situation after an accident before you decide who was at fault based on what you saw.
What You Should do After an Accident
As previously mentioned, emotions may be high after an accident takes place, severe or not. Here are some things that you should take into consideration and some steps to follow after you have been involved in an accident:
Remain at the Scene: Never leave the scene until it is appropriate to leave. If you leave before the police arrive or you have given your information, and somebody was injured or killed, you could face serious criminal penalties.
Check on Drivers and Passengers: Make sure that everybody involved in the accident is okay. Don’t move anybody if they are experiencing neck or back pain, because this could pose a hazard.
Call Police: You must always call the police if there is significant property damage, physical injury, or death. They will be able to file a police report and you should always obtain the name and badge numbers of the responding officers.
Exchange Information: Get the names, addresses, drivers’ license numbers, and basic insurance from all drivers involved.
Talk to Witnesses: Ask all witnesses what they saw. Also obtain their names, numbers, and addresses if possible.
Inform Insurance: You should always contact your insurance company to let them know you’ve been involved in a car accident. Always tell the truth and be clear about exactly what happened.
Take Pictures of Scene: Take photographs of any damage that your vehicle sustained, because these photos will help the insurance adjuster determine how much you should be compensated for in terms of damage.
Have you been injured in an accident? Now you know the right things to say after an accident takes place. However, you may still need to turn to a helpful and experienced attorney that can help you with your personal injury claim. Call Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi today!
