What To Do After A Car Accident
By car insurance industry estimates, you will file a claim for a collision about once every 17.9 years. That means that you will be involved in a total of 3 to 4 accidents over your lifetime.
After a car accident, you may feel disoriented or confused. It’s not uncommon for tensions to be high after a collision, which can lead to mistakes being made that could negatively impact your claim.
DO’s and DONT’S After a Car Accident
Follow these tips to give yourself the best chance of a satisfactory resolution to your case.
DO Contact Emergency Services
This is important—you will want that report for your case, and any insurance companies that have a stake in the accident will likely want it as well. If someone is injured in the accident, getting medical attention should be the first priority above all else.
DON’T Allow the Other Person to Drive Off
When financial liability is involved, people often have very little motivation to be honest, and many car accident victims have been burned when the person who hit them gave them false information quickly and then scrambled to drive off.
DO Report the Accident to Your Insurance
You want to report the accident as soon as possible to get it on record and give the insurance company as little chance as possible to try to deny your claim because you didn’t report it.
DON’T Apologize for the Accident
If you apologize at the scene of an accident, the other person’s insurance will most likely try to spin this as an admission of fault and absolve themselves of any financial responsibility, even if the other party was clearly and blatantly at fault.
DO Take Lots of Pictures at the Scene
Be sure to document everything at your accident scene, including damage to your car as a result of the accident, damage to the other person’s car, any relevant traffic control devices (traffic lights, stop signs, speed limit signs, etc.), and skid marks for braking, if they exist.
DON’T Accept a Quick Settlement
This initial offer may seem like a lot of money, but chances are it’s actually a fraction of what your case is actually worth. Let an attorney review and evaluate your case, give you his or her opinion of next steps, and then proceed from there—it’s very rarely a good idea to settle your claim early!
Be Careful What You Say to an Insurance Company — Even if It’s Your Own!
You are likely being recorded when you are talking to an insurance company. What you say could be used against you in the future, so be very careful as to what you say. Do NOT agree to a recorded statement with an insurance company without first contacting a lawyer. A skilled attorney can help you navigate the initial steps of making a claim without hurting your case, which isn’t always the case if you go it alone.
At the scene of an accident:
- The first phone call you make should be to emergency services.
- Never allow someone to leave the scene of an accident until the police have arrived.
- It’s okay to want to be friendly and helpful at an accident scene, but choose your words carefully.
- Photograph everything.
After an accident:
- You are required to notify your insurance of any car accidents in a prompt fashion. Tell the operator receiving your claim only the basic facts, without being too detailed. You’ll have the chance to be more detailed at a later date once you’ve spoken to an attorney.
- If you get an offer within a few days of your accident and with little to no resistance, don’t take it. Let an auto accident attorney review your case and help you determine whether or not this settlement is fair for what you actually deserve.
M. Austin Jackson Injury Lawyers have recovered millions for our personal injury clients since 2013. In the event of wrongful death, the family can seek compensation for the full value of the life that was lost, as well as damages to pay for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and much more.
