Mistakes To Avoid After You Are Involved In A Car Accident

If you are involved in an automobile accident, you want to make sure you do everything possible to ensure your well-being, as well as protect your interests in any future settlement. To make sure of this, avoid the following mistakes that could adversely affect your case after being in a car accident.

Declining Immediate Medical Care

In the moments after the accident, you may feel as though you do not need to see a doctor. You may feel no pain or have no difficulty moving around, so you decline the offer to take you to the hospital. However, this is a mistake for a couple of reasons. First, you may not realize that you are hurt because your body is full of adrenaline because of the accident. However, after a few hours, you may realize that you are stiff and in pain, or you may find that you have injuries that you did not detect at the time.

Second, if you wait to go to the doctor, you may have difficulty proving without a reasonable doubt that your injuries were caused by the accident. The other party's attorney may try to say that you were hurt in the hours or days after the incident, and it would be harder to prove otherwise unless you go immediately to the emergency room.

Speaking to the Insurance Company Before Contacting a Lawyer 

After the accident, your and the other party's insurance companies will try to contact you. You may even receive a call while you are still in the hospital, depending on how quickly the incident was reported. While you may feel that speaking with the agents could do no harm, doing so without the guidance of an attorney could greatly hurt your case.

When the insurance company talks to you, they may use language to try to guide what you are saying in an attempt to get you to unknowingly admit guilt for your part in the accident. They may also try to pressure you into taking a settlement far below to what you are entitled. Having a lawyer advise you or having them speak to the agents for you can help keep you from incriminating yourself or accepting an offer that is not nearly enough to cover your injuries and property damage.

Making the above mistakes after being in a car accident could greatly jeopardize any settlement you may seek. Speak with an auto accident lawyer for further advice on what to do and how to handle things after your accident, as well as discuss the possibility of having them represent you so you can concentrate on getting better.