A car accident can ruin your entire day, maybe even week. Not only will you have to miss work, appointments, run late picking-up the kids, you also have to deal with the stress of damage to your vehicle, liability, possible traffic citations, and maybe even injury.
While one of my past blog posts described things you should do following a car accident, there are also some things you should never do following your collision. Here are five things to avoid after your car accident to ensure you’re back on the road in no time:
1. Never Leave the scene of the Accident.
Leaving the scene of an accident, also referred to as hit-and-run, is a crime. If convicted of hit-and-run, especially where injuries/damages are involved, you can face jail time and steep financial penalties. Stay at the scene until you have reported the accident to the police, helped injured parties, and exchanged information with other drivers involved in the crash.
2. Never Lose Your Temper.
After your accident, your emotions are probably running high, you may not think you’re at fault and/or you may be injured. But it is never a good idea to lose your cool – even if you feel you are clearly not responsible. When talking with other drivers involved, ask if they are okay. Don’t blame or yell at them. Try to stay calm and take deep breaths, this will also help you better asses and react to the situation.
3. Never Forget To Call Authorities.
Often times, people do not call 911 to report a minor accident or one where there are no injuries. However, you may feel okay at the time of the accident, but experience pain later. And what if the other driver doesn’t have car insurance? Even if you don’t feel hurt at the time or there isn’t much damage, it is always best to have official documentation from the authorities in the event you have a dispute or need to litigate your case.
4. Never Forget Proper Documentation.
You must never forget proper documentation of your accident, and make sure to get accurate insurance information from the other drivers involved in the crash. You will need to provide a consistent account of the accident to the police and insurance carriers.
Make sure to get the other drivers’ names, addresses, and telephone numbers.
Write down the make, model, color and tag number(s) of the other vehicles involved in the crash.
Use a camera or your cell phone to take pictures of the accident if possible.
If there are any witnesses, make sure to obtain their names and phone numbers.
5. Never Forget To Get Medical Treatment.
If you were injured, or even think you may have been injured in a car accident, you should see a doctor right away. Not only do you want to get well, proper medical documentation of your injuries will be important to your personal injury case.
If you have been injured in a car accident, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Murphy & Garner, LLC. We understand the stress an injured driver or passenger can experience and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation at 678-563-1584.
