If you are ever involved in a car accident, it is important to remember to avoid making any serious mistakes. These mistakes could potentially lead to further injuries or even criminal charges. In this article, you will learn about some of the most common and serious mistakes that people make following a car accident.
Delaying Medical Care
Accidents happen all over the state of Georgia, and as soon as you’ve been in a crash, you have to get your injuries treated to make sure everything’s okay, and so that the doctors can see the full-scale damage to your body. According to the advice from this Atlanta based car accident lawyer, documenting your fresh injuries as soon as possible is key to getting the full value of your claim. This means you’re having a win-win situation if you go to the hospital right away.
Make sure to never delay going to the hospital after a car accident. Many people make the mistake of thinking that they don’t have any serious injuries, and as a result, they delay going to the hospital. This is often a costly mistake, as many injuries sustained in car accidents do not show symptoms until later on. By delaying medical care, you could end up making your injuries worse and increasing the amount of time it takes for you to recover.
Car accident injuries can often have long-lasting effects, so visiting the hospital right after is your best call. Otherwise, you’re at the risk of having permanent consequences.
Throwing Away The Medical Bills
There are tons of hospital bills and other medical bills that will come after a car accident. It is important to keep every single one of these bills. Some people make the mistake of throwing them away thinking that their insurance will cover it all. Insurance does not always cover everything and you might need those bills to show what treatments were received.
The medical bills you will get during your visits to the hospital are the following:
- Your ambulance ride
- Any x-rays or scans performed
- Your emergency room visit
- Your inpatient stay
- Your outpatient visits
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy bills
- Prescription medications
- Over the counter medications related to your accident
Throwing away the medical bills is a serious mistake to avoid when involved in a car accident. You should also make a copy of the invoices and keep them in a safe place. If you have any questions about your insurance coverage, contact your insurance company. They will be able to help you understand what is covered and what is not. Having all of these bills can also help if you need to go to court because of the accident.
Not Cooperating
You need to notify the authorities if you are in a car accident, even if it seems minor. Many people make the mistake of not cooperating with the police and end up getting into more trouble. You may think that notifying the authorities will only make the situation worse, but this is not always true. If you do not cooperate, you could be charged with a crime or ticketed for violating traffic laws. It is best to let the professionals handle the situation and cooperate with their requests. Remember, your safety and well-being are a top priority.
Be truthful and honest with the police. If you are not sure about something, ask for clarification. Do not try to guess or lie about what happened. Lying to the police can lead to more problems and could even land you in jail. The truth will come out eventually, so it is best, to tell the truth from the beginning.
Follow the instructions of the police officer. If you are asked to remain at the scene, do not leave until instructed to do so by the officer. If you are asked to go to a particular location for questioning, go there as quickly as possible. Do not get into an argument with the officer or refuse their requests. Remember, they are just doing their job and trying to keep everyone safe.
Not Getting The Official Report
If this goes to court, you’ll need a copy of the accident report. You’re not going to be able to get very far without it. Make sure you get a copy of the official report as soon as possible after the accident.
This is definitely one of the most serious mistakes that you can make when involved in a car accident. If you don’t have an official report, it’s going to be very difficult to prove what happened during the accident and who was at fault. This could end up costing you a lot of time and money in court if it goes to trial. Make sure you get a copy of the official report as soon as possible after the accident so that you have all the information you need to protect yourself and your case.​
Ignoring The Scene Of The Accident
You have to document the scene of the accident if you want to have a chance of winning in court. If you leave the scene, you’re compromising your case and could wind up with a lesser settlement or no settlement at all.
Take pictures of the damage to both cars, as well as any injuries that resulted from the accident. Get witness contact information, and write down everything you can remember about what happened. The more evidence you have, the better your chances are of getting compensated for your losses.
Doing Everything On Your Own
Never dive into these things without a legal advisor as they’re your best chance to get compensated for the damages you deserve. You may think you’re doing everything right, but without the insight of a professional, you could be making some serious mistakes.
When it comes to car accidents, there are plenty of things that can go wrong if you’re not careful. Here are three big ones to avoid like trying to handle negotiations with the insurance company on your own or signing any documents without reading them carefully first. Many people also agree to a settlement before you know all the facts about their case.
A lawyer will know how much you can get out of your situation and how to properly file a case. Trying to go it alone can lead to frustration and a lot less money in your pocket.
Being in a car accident is a dangerous and scary thing and delaying medical care is a huge mistake, along with throwing away medical bills. You have to cooperate with authorities, as well as be truthful in court, and always get a copy of the police report. Never ignore the scene of the accident since it can very much help your case, and make sure that you hire a lawyer who will guide you through the process. This will get you compensated in no time!
