Mistakes To Avoid After A Car Accident
If you call accident can be an overwhelmingly stressful experience, and it is important to understand what you can do after the incident to protect yourself and your rights. However, it is equally important to know that there are things you should NOT do after a vehicle accident. Take it from our Laredo injury lawyers! In this article, we want to discuss some of the mistakes you need to avoid after being involved in a Texas vehicle accident.
1. Failing to Report the Accident
It’s important to report the accident to the authorities as soon as possible, even if it seems minor. The police report can serve as valuable evidence in any insurance or legal claims. Additionally, Texas law requires that most vehicle accidents be reported right away, and failing to abide by this law could result in a person facing a hit-and-run charge.
2. Not Seeking Medical Attention
It is essential to prioritize your health after an accident, even if you do not think you were badly injured. Some injuries, including whiplash, often do not present symptoms until days after the accident. Seeking medical attention ensures that you get the treatment you need and also creates a record of your injuries. This record of your injuries is going to be closely examined by the insurance carriers when they work to determine a settlement amount.
3. Admitting Fault
It is natural to want to apologize or take responsibility after an accident, and sometimes people just say “sorry” naturally, regardless of whether or not they did anything wrong. It is important to avoid admitting fault. The circumstances of the accident may not be clear, and admitting fault can be used against you in any insurance or legal claims.
4. Not Gathering Evidence
You should gather as much evidence as possible at the scene of the accident, including the contact and insurance information of the other driver, photos or videos of the damage and the scene, and the contact information of any witnesses. This evidence can be crucial in supporting your case. Take note of any cameras you see on nearby homes or businesses, as these may have captured valuable footage that could help you win your case.
5. Not Contacting an Attorney
If you have been seriously injured or if the accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Laredo car accident attorney. A lawyer can get involved quickly and take over every aspect of your car accident case on your behalf. This will include investigating the incident, gathering and preserving evidence, negotiating with insurance carriers, and preparing for trial if necessary.
6. Not Continuing Medical Care
Many individuals stop going to the doctor or any type of physical therapy and rehabilitation as soon as they start to feel better. Yes, we must certainly want you to feel better, but we also want you to go to every doctor’s appointment until a medical professional says that you have reached maximum medical improvement for your particular condition. If you do not continue medical assistance, insurance carriers could take this as a sign that you did not sustain as severe an injury as initially thought.