The immediate moments after an accident can be highly disorientating. However, the things that you do right after a personal injury accident can make all the difference in the success of your case. Even unintentional or the most basic mistakes can severely damage your case. Here are some mistakes that you should avoid making if you hope to achieve the best possible outcome.
Fleeing the Scene
As a trusted personal injury lawyer can tell you, like one at Therman Law Offices, LTD, leaving the scene of an accident can have severe consequences. If a person was injured and you leave the scene, you can face criminal charges, such as a misdemeanor or felony. Your case will also be much weaker if you decide to flee.
Taking Blame
One mistake that accident victims often make is to accept blame for the accident. Be wary of people who may try to manipulate you into saying it’s your fault. If anyone attempts to blame you for the accident, do not accept the blame for anything, even if you feel pressure to. Accepting blame can weaken your case. Save your statements for later when you can talk to a lawyer.
Apologizing
Similarly to accepting blame, giving an apology is also a well-intentioned act that you should not do. Be mindful of the details that you give following a personal injury accident. You may be tempted to apologize if you believe that you did contribute to the accident, however, you should not tell anyone else besides a lawyer. You could lose compensation that you would otherwise be entitled to. Do not say anything that may be interpreted as an apology because this can be used against you, or your claim can be weakened.
Refusing or Delaying Medical Attention
It is important that you get medical care right away even if you have no minor injuries or believe that you are not injured. Medical professionals not only need to give you a full evaluation and treat you, but they can list exactly what injuries you have sustained that are a result of the accident. You can be going through shock, which can mask the extent of your injuries. Even postponing medical care several days after a personal injury accident can be damaging to your claim because if your injuries heal right away, you may not be able to show evidence that you were injured in an accident.
Forgetting Other Involved Parties
In some personal injury accident cases, there could be more than one person involved and at fault. Knowing exactly how many parties are involved in your case is necessary because there could be more than one person who you may be able to file a lawsuit against. The more parties that are liable, the greater amount of compensation that you can potentially recover for your losses. Have a lawyer find out how many parties are involved in your case because it could mean more parties are liable.
To learn more about what to do and what not to do after an accident, consult with a personal injury lawyer that you can trust.