Car Accidents occur suddenly and unexpectedly.  They typically result in an individual to respond with their natural acute stress response of “flight or fight.”  It is not uncommon for one to act instinctively after a motor vehicle collision without properly considering the future consequences of these initial actions.  If you have been involved in a motor vehicle collision, there are some actions you should never take following a motor vehicle accident.

After a car crash, never do these five things:

1. Do NOT forget to call the police to the accident scene

Having a police report is critical to establishing fault for the car accident. Insurance companies rely heavily on police crash reports when making liability determinations.  The police should always be called even if nobody appears to be injured.

2. Do NOT leave the scene of the car accident

No matter the circumstances of a crash, you should never leave the scene of a motor vehicle accident before the police arrive and say it’s okay to do so. Even if there appears to be no damage to the vehicles, do not simply drive away!

3. Do NOT admit fault for the car accident

Many people make the mistake of immediately exiting their car and beginning to apologize for the crash even if it was not their fault. It is always best to check if everyone is fine and call the police. Never admit fault after being involved in a collision: just report the facts of the accident to the police. It isn’t uncommon for other witnesses with better vantage points to come forward to demonstrate the accident was actually someone else’s fault.

4. Do NOT provide a recorded statement to any insurance company

You should never give a verbal or written statement to any insurance company, including your own. Insurance adjusters are trained to and experienced at questioning you in an effort to create a record favorable for them and unfavorable for you.  The other driver’s insurance carrier will question you with the intent of demonstrating that you were at least partially responsible for the happening of the accident. Your own insurance company will question you with the intent of demonstrating that they should not have to provide insurance coverage for you as it relates to the motor vehicle accident due to a loophole found in the fine print of your motor vehicle insurance policy, typically referred to in your insurance policy as a “policy exclusion.”

5. Do NOT represent yourself in your personal injury claim

There are many complicated legal issues involved in the pursuit of a claim stemming form a motor vehicle collision.   Attempting to represent yourself in a claim can result in irreparable harm to your case.  We frequently see individuals contact our office after unsuccessfully trying to handle the matter themselves.  Typically these individual have said and done things in their efforts that result in negative implications to their case.  Some bells just cannot be unrung.

What you should do after a car accident:

Promptly contact one of our experienced car accident attorneys for a free, no obligation meeting to discuss your motor vehicle accident claim.