Avoid These Mistakes After Your Car Accident
Posted on: 27 October 2016
Car crashes are more common than you think. With 10 million crashes each year, the average driver gets into an accident almost every 18 years. When you are involved in a crash, you'll want to avoid making some mistakes to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Not Making A Police Report
Did you get into just a small fender bender? You should still consider making a police report. A common mistake that some people make is just exchanging contact information, but one person does not realize that the other is going to file a claim with their auto insurance company. This means that the blame can be placed on you for the car accident, and there is no police report to prove otherwise. Make the report, get your story documented, and you won't have to worry about the wrong info coming out later.
Fleeing The Accident Scene
It's against the law to flee from the accident scene. You should always leave the cars in the final position where they rested after the crash, contact the police, and then wait for the report to be made. It will help the police understand what happened, helping them come to their own impartial decision.
Not Swapping Insurance Info
The damage to your car may not seem noticeable now, but things can change after you drive the car for a couple days. You may notice problems with the car drifting to one side, a new noise, or a leak in a fluid line. By having insurance information from the other driver, you can use it to file your claim later on.
Not Getting Medical Care
Similar to not knowing if your car is damaged after an accident, you may not know if you sustained any injuries right after the accident. Have yourself checked out by a doctor to see what could be wrong with you. If you have an open wound, a doctor may have you get a tetanus shot to avoid an infection from occurring. It is not worth the risk to avoid a checkup when it comes to your health.
Not Hiring A Lawyer
If you did sustain a serious injury, you'll need all the legal help you can get to ensure that you get the settlement you deserve. Don't assume that you do not need a lawyer because the other person was clearly the cause of the accident. A lawyer from a law firm near you can help you receive the proper amount of compensation based on factors like your injury, lost wages, pain and suffering, and costs related directly to the accident.
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