What Not To Do After An Accident

What Not to Do After an Accident

Car and motorcycle accidents are never expected, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be prepared when one occurs. After an accident you should drive to a safe place, remain calm, contact 911, obtain the other driver’s information, and get medical help. This is what you should do, but you should also know what not to do. By knowing what not to do after a car accident you can avoid the pitfalls other personal injury victims have fallen into.

Don’t:

Drive Away

This might seem obvious, but it is on this list for a reason. Sometimes a driver thinks that the accident was “not a big deal” and drives away. Whether this was because they don’t see any damage to their vehicle or because they don’t feel as if they were hit hard enough, it is never a good idea to simply drive a way after an accident.

First, the other driver may try to blame you for a hit and run. You do not want to simply drive away after finding that you have no damage because the other driver may be dishonest and turn the tables on you. It then appears as if you were fleeing the scene. Take the time to speak with the other driver and get their information.

Second, the full extent of the damage done may not be immediately apparent. Your vehicle can have structural damage. While it may seem like you don’t have anything to gain by sticking around, stopping to get the other driver’s information can prevent a ton of headaches later down the road when an issue arises.

Leave Without Obtaining a Police Report

After you’ve pulled into a safe place and assessed the situation, call the local police or the California Highway Patrol. If you do not feel that the accident warrants calling 911, call the non-emergency numbers at 619-531-2000 or 858-484-3154.

This is important because a police report can set the foundation and boundaries of your case. Without a police report, the other driver can be left to make statements that don’t accurately reflect what happened. Their lawyers may also attempt to use the lack of a police report against you.

Forget to See a Doctor

If you have serious injuries, you need to seek immediate care. But if your injured and don’t consider it a big deal, you still need to go see a doctor.

Just as a car can be impacted beyond what is visible to you, your body can be seriously injured without you knowing it. Seeking care from your physician to make sure you are okay is the prudent thing to do. Consider the flip side- if you don’t seek treatment and later find out you were injured, an insurer is going to be highly hesitant to cover your injury.

You should always be sure to get ahead of any potential issues after an accident by visiting your doctor.

Post Misleading Photos on Social Media

A picture on the internet can seriously hurt your case. Photographs of you with friends or family, smiling and having a good time, will be used against you. An insurer can take those pictures and show them to a jury, arguing that you aren’t as injured as you say, and that you don’t deserve the award your asking. The jury doesn’t get to see what occurred before or after those pictures were taken, they only see that moment where you were able to look your best and brightest. That isn’t to say that you shouldn’t have those happy moments or capture them on film. You certainly should, you only have so much time to enjoy yourself, just refrain from posting them to social media.

Do:

Call an Attorney

The attorneys at Haffner & Morgan can help you every step of the way with your personal injury. We take the time to understand the full extent of your injuries, and how you have been affected, so that we can seek the compensation you deserve. If you’ve already failed to do anything on this list, we can help make the necessary corrections to undo the damage.

The lawyers will be able to take over negotiations with the defendant or their insurance company, leaving you to focus on treating your injuries and fully recovering your body. Strong and aggressive negotiating from the attorneys at Haffner & Morgan can bring the best results for your case. Where insurance companies are not willing to negotiate fairly, or settle in an amount that allows for your full recovery and just compensation for your pain and suffering, Haffner & Morgan have the experience necessary to take your case to trial.

The information provided in this blog is not meant to be legal advice. It is provided as an informative guide only.  If you have any questions regarding a personal injury, contact a lawyer today. An experienced attorney will have a strong understanding of the process and usually can inform you at no cost. The attorneys at Haffner & Morgan offer no cost consultations and are happy to answer any questions you may have.