Being involved in a car crash is enough to shake anyone up, and it can be difficult to act in the “correct” manner afterwards. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the errors people making in the aftermath of a crash.
- Failing to pull over – There really is only one place to begin in the world of car crash errors, and this is failing to pull over. Driving away from the scene of a crash is often a criminal offence. It is the worst thing you can do, so don’t even think about it!
- Failing to keep your mouth shut – Don’t speak too much; you could end up implicating yourself for something that’s not your fault!
- Failing to hire a solicitor – You do not actually need to hire a solicitor in order to make an accident claim and so this is an option some people take in order to save money! However, this is highly ill-advised if you are going to go down the claim route. You are going to seriously damage your chances of getting compensation if you do not have someone experienced in compensation law on your side. Moreover, if you go for a no win no fee service you need not worry about the monetary side of things.
- Failing to see a doctor – Another error a lot of people make is failing to see a doctor. If you have sustained a minor injury it can often be tempting to cope with it alone. After all, many people hate taking a trip to the hospital. However, whiplash is one of the most common injuries sustained in a car crash, and it often doesn’t appear so bad at first. You can feel fine, which can lull you into a false sense of security, assuming that everything is okay. Nevertheless, it is always better to get checked out. You should not take a risk when it comes to your health.
- Failing to act quickly – Many individuals do not realise there is a time limit on all insurance claims and cases for personal injuries. This time limit is often three years, which does seem like a long time. Yet, court proceedings must be issued within this period of time, and once you have coped with your injury and hired the right solicitor time can fly. Furthermore, the longer you leave it the more difficult it will be. You will likely forget certain issues and it will become harder to gather witness statements and such like.
- Failing to keep proof of expenses – On a final note, it is crucial to keep proof of any expenses encountered because of your injury. This can be anything from loss of income, to treatment costs, to body shop repair fees, to childcare expenses, and more. However, if you do not keep proof of such expenses you will not be able to claim for them. So make sure you don’t throw away your receipts and such like!
- Failing To Take Photos. One of the things that any great car accident lawyer will ask you is whether or not you have evidence of the crash. You might not consider taking photos while you’re in the immediate aftermath of a car accident but you should. If you can, and if you have a working phone and the ability to point and shoot, you need to take photos. You have to have good evidence to make sure that your lawyer can fight for you. With enough evidence, you can build a solid case that will get you the insurance payout that you’re looking for. If you or your passengers can, take photos while you are still on the scene. These can include the license plates, the crash itself and any injuries anyone has sustained as a result of the crash you have been involved in. This is so important for later, especially if you have any injuries that you are planning to claim on.
So there you have it: some of the errors you need to avoid if you ever find yourself in a car accident.
Photo Credit: Artyom Kulakov
