What You Should NOT do After a Georgia Car Accident

Key Points:

• Costly Mistakes to Avoid: Most people aren’t prepared for a car accident. Making certain mistakes can reduce the amount of money you receive after a car accident.
• Failure to Get Immediate Medical Evaluation: You should get medical attention immediately after an accident, even if you are not sure if you’re injured. While no one should unnecessarily see a doctor, if you delay getting medical care the insurance company may claim you were not really hurt. Getting to a doctor or emergency room shortly after an accident ensures your injuries will be properly documented.
• Verbal Mistakes: After you’ve been in an accident, you should not apologize or admit fault. Additionally, don’t discuss your injuries, blame others, or make threats. Doing any of this can damage your legal standing.
• Role of Police and Legal Counsel: Be sure to contact the police so there is official documentation of the accident. Also, we recommend consulting a lawyer for guidance on how to deal with insurance companies, collecting evidence, and understanding your rights.

Car accidents are unexpected events in our lives, which means most of us are unaware of the potential mistakes that can occur afterward. Even if you’ve experienced a few accidents over the years, they remain infrequent occurrences. The majority of people are not trained on what to do or say after a car accident. In fact, part of a car accident lawyer’s role often involves addressing and correcting statements or actions that were not handled properly at the scene. By understanding what not to do, you can avoid costly errors and better protect your rights and interests after an accident.

Table of Contents

Why is it Important to Avoid Certain Actions after a Georgia Car Accident?

Mistakes can be very costly after a car accident. One bad decision can make it difficult to recover any compensation. Furthermore, a mistake can potentially lead to being declared at fault and liable for the accident, which could increase your insurance premiums. Therefore, knowing what actions to avoid is crucial to protect your financial interests and legal standing after a car accident. By taking the right steps and avoiding common pitfalls, you can better navigate the aftermath of an accident and ensure a more favorable outcome.

What Should You Avoid Saying After a Car Accident?

Apologies – or Admitting Fault

The scene following an accident is often intense and emotional. It’s natural to cave to our emotions and start apologizing, even if we haven’t done anything wrong. Sometimes, we might even mistakenly believe we made a bad driving decision when we didn’t. The bottom line is that while you should express empathy and be respectful to others at the accident scene, avoid apologizing or admitting any fault.

Saying you are “OK” when you are not:

From childhood, many people’s first reaction after falling down or being impacted by a heavy blow is to say “I’m OK.” When you say this to a police officer who is questioning you after an accident, the police report is going to read “no complaint of injury.” Even if you go to the Emergency Room after the crash because you WERE hurt and were just being polite, the insurance adjuster is going to argue that you were not hurt – based on that one innocent statement alone. It can take a lot of work to overcome this simple and reflexive statement.

Why You should Avoid Opinions, Assumptions, or Speculations After a Crash

If asked about the accident, stick to the facts and what you actually witnessed. With car accidents, it’s easy to talk about things you don’t know. Sharing an opinion that isn’t agreed upon or true can make it seem like you are lying to favor your case. If it’s proven that you were wrong, it can make you appear dishonest. Therefore, it’s crucial to provide only factual information and avoid speculation to maintain credibility and protect your legal standing.

• Do Not Discuss Injury Details

The most common question to get after a car accident is “Are you okay?”, it will be asked by firefighters, police, witnesses, etc. Its easy to say “I’m fine” but in reality you don’t really know, since injuries in a car accident can present themselves days after. Sometimes at the accident scene the adrenaline of the event is covering the injuries. Its simple and easy to say “I really don’t know”, or be honest if you are feeling pain.

Avoid Blaming Others

This is very easy to do. It’s okay to ask questions and discuss the incident, but blaming others is not ideal. It can lead to arguments, make the other drivers more defensive, and possibly encourage them to lie. It’s best to let the authorities, your car accident lawyer, and the insurance companies determine fault.

Avoid Making Threats or Using Contentious Language

When emotions are high, it’s easy to make threats and harass the at-fault driver, believing you have a reason because they caused the accident. However, doing so can result in criminal charges. You don’t want the accident scene to lead to criminal charges against you, especially if you were not at fault. This can happen when aggressive driving causes an accident, leaving the victim feeling scared. It’s always best to calm your emotions and remember that if you’re not at fault, you have a good chance of recovering compensation.

Is it a Mistake to Move the Vehicles After a Car Accident?

The accident scene should be photographed before moving the vehicles. It’s okay if other vehicles have to go around you for a few minutes. Ensure your safety, but work to preserve the accident scene until it is documented by authorities. Listen to the police on this matter, as preserving the accident scene is critical for accurately showing, proving, and identifying what happened. Moving the vehicles can disrupt evidence and complicate fault determination. However, if the vehicles are creating a hazard, such as blocking traffic or posing a danger to others, it may be necessary to move them to a safer location. In such cases, take photos of the scene and vehicle positions before moving anything.

Why Shouldn’t you Discuss the Car Accident on Social Media?

Accidents are high-emotion events, and it’s natural to want to share your experience with friends and family on social media. However, this is a bad idea because social media posts can be used against your legal claim, potentially resulting in lost compensation. Insurance legal teams almost always review social media profiles when investigating a case. You may think that because your profile is private or that the post will disappear in 24 hours, it’s okay to share.  However, one of your friends who knows the other party or works for the insurance company could take and save a screenshot. To protect your claim, avoid posting about the accident on social media.

Why Shouldn’t you Leave the Scene of the Accident in Georgia?

Leaving the scene of a Georgia car accident before the police arrive can turn it into a hit-and-run incident, resulting in more severe penalties. These penalties can include fines, suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, increased insurance premiums, and potential jail time. Additionally, a hit-and-run charge can lead to a permanent criminal record or make it harder to prove your case because there may not be a police report, or the report may be wrong because it does not contain your side of the story. Always wait for the police to arrive and get their approval before leaving the accident scene.

Why Should you Call the Police After a Georgia Car Accident?

In Georgia, failure to report an accident with damages over $500 to the police is against the law. Even then, there are several important reasons to call the police after an accident.

First, the police will create an official report for the accident that can be used in a legal claim. Without this report, it is nearly impossible to pursue legal action.

Additionally, the police will document other details from the scene, ensure victims receive medical treatment, and will manage traffic during the investigation and clean up.

Are There Risks if I Don’t Seek Medical Attention Immediately?

Rejecting medical attention immediately after a car accident can pose significant risks. This can include undiagnosed injuries such as internal bleeding, concussions, or whiplash. Some symptoms might not appear until hours or days later, and a medical professional can identify these early signs.

If you delay seeing treatment, insurance companies can argue that your injuries are not serious or unrelated to the accident. This can weaken your legal claim and reduce compensation.

Getting immediate medical care ensures proper documentation of your injuries to support insurance and legal claims. It can lead to faster recovery, prevent long-term complications, and reduce your overall medical costs.

Why Should I Consult a Lawyer after an Accident?

It’s always a good idea to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer even if you don’t plan to pursue a legal case. They can instruct you on what to say to insurance companies, assist in collecting and preserving crucial evidence, and provide guidance on medical treatment. Additionally, they can negotiate with insurance adjusters on your behalf and help you understand your rights and options. Having a lawyer on your side can ease the stress and complexities of dealing with the aftermath of a car accident.