What NOT to Do After a Car Accident in 2024

Key Points:

Avoid Costly Mistakes: Car accidents are uncommon, and most people aren’t prepared for them, which can lead to errors that hinder compensation recovery and potentially increase insurance premiums.

Importance of Immediate Medical Attention: Delaying medical care can leave injuries undiagnosed, weaken your legal claim, and slow recovery. Seeking prompt treatment ensures proper documentation and helps prevent complications.

Avoiding Verbal Mistakes: After an accident, avoid apologizing, admitting fault, making assumptions, discussing injuries, blaming others, or making threats to protect your legal standing.

Role of Police and Legal Counsel: Calling the police ensures official documentation of the accident, while consulting a lawyer provides essential guidance on interacting with insurance companies, collecting evidence, and understanding your rights.

Car accidents are relatively rare 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.

Why is it Important to Avoid Certain Actions after a 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?

A lot of the mistakes a person makes after a car accident is verbal. Its better to be more quiet after a car accident, then to go make statements that can be heard by police, witnesses, or any recordings. Here’s what you should avoid saying:

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.

Avoid Saying Opinions, Assumptions, or Speculations

Stick to what you know, the facts, and what you actually witnessed if asked. 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. A common way to do this is by posting on social media. However, this approach is strongly discouraged by car accident lawyers 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 might think, “My profile is private,” or “The post disappears after 24 hours,” but even then, a friend who knows the other party or works for the insurance company could take and save a screenshot, jeopardizing your case. To protect your claim, avoid posting about the accident on social media.

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

Leaving the scene of an accident without receiving approval from the police 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, which can affect your employment prospects and personal reputation. To avoid these serious consequences, always wait for the police to arrive and provide the necessary approval before leaving the accident scene.

Why Shouldn’t you Skip Calling the Police After a Car Accident?

In Georgia, it is against the law not to report a car accident to the police if the damages amount to at least $500. Beyond this legal requirement, there are several important reasons to call the police. First, they create an official police report for the accident, which is crucial for a successful legal claim. Without this report, it is nearly impossible to pursue legal action effectively. Additionally, the police document details that you might not know to record. They also ensure that everyone receives the appropriate medical treatment and can manage traffic and other potential dangers, protecting you and others at the scene.

What are the Risks of Not Seeking Medical Attention Immediately?

Not seeking medical attention immediately after a car accident can pose significant risks, including undiagnosed injuries such as internal bleeding, concussions, or whiplash that can worsen without prompt treatment. Delayed symptoms might not appear until hours or days later, and a medical professional can identify these early signs. Insurance companies may argue that your injuries are not serious or unrelated to the accident if there is a delay in seeking treatment, weakening your legal claim and reducing compensation. Immediate medical care ensures proper documentation of your injuries, which is crucial for supporting insurance and legal claims. Additionally, prompt treatment can lead to faster recovery and prevent long-term complications, while delaying care can result in more severe health issues and increased medical costs.

What are the Dangers of not Consulting a Lawyer after an Accident?

A car accident lawyer offers numerous benefits, even if you do not plan to pursue a legal case. They can educate you on what to say to insurance companies, ensuring you do not inadvertently harm your claim. They also assist in collecting and preserving crucial evidence, which can be vital for any future legal or insurance processes. Additionally, a lawyer can provide guidance on medical treatment, negotiate with insurance adjusters on your behalf, and help you understand your rights and options following an accident. Having a knowledgeable advocate on your side can significantly ease the stress and complexities of dealing with the aftermath of a car accident.