When a minor car accident happens, you are surely tempted to do several bad things. No matter what you might believe, it is really important to file a report with the police. Also, you want to file with the insurance companies involved. This includes your company and the one of the party that is at fault.Â
The big problem is that insurance companies do not have your best interests in mind. They just want to make you pay as little as possible. With this in mind, according to experienced Alabama auto injury lawyers, here are some things that you should always avoid when involved in any car accident, even if it is a minor one.Â
Not File A Report With The Police
Leaving the scene of any car accident is a huge mistake, even if it is a minor one. You will need a police report when you file your injury claim and you will be able to use it during negotiations with the insurance company. If you do not get the report, everything is open to analysis and the other parties involved will want to dispute everything.Â
Fail To Gather Accident Evidence
You should take all the pictures that you can and your smartphone camera is more than enough. Also, try to get phone numbers for witnesses and the other people involved. If it is possible, try to shoot a video that highlights your injuries and any other condition that might have had an impact on the accident, like inadequate street lighting. Just try to collect all the evidence you can as soon as possible after the accident happened.Â
Admitting You Were At Fault
This is a very tricky one. In the heat of the moment, it is very easy to admit fault. This can happen without you even realizing that you are doing it. Even if you think that you had a part in the accident and it was your fault for something, you cannot really be sure this is the case. And if you do admit fault, the other parties will use that against you.Â
What you have to do is to let your personal injury attorney find evidence and figure out what happened. The police will also investigate the case. This is particularly important to do in states with comparative fault laws.Â
Not Going To The Doctor
This might be one of the worst things you do after a car accident. It is vital for your well-being and for your eventual injury claim to go get checked out by a medical professional. You have to do this as soon as possible, even if you believe you were not injured in the collision. When you do not and some injuries do appear as the aftermath of the case, it will be very difficult to prove that this was the reality. The other parties will just say the injuries are wear and tear. Compensation will be lower than it should be.Â
We should also highlight there are injuries that only appear after some time passes. The best example of that is the whiplash injury, which can start to show symptoms even days after the car accident. Since you will be affected by adrenaline after the accident, it is better to just get checked out to be sure everything is ok.
