Common Mistakes After a Motor Vehicle Accident

 Posted on November 30, 2022 in Car Accident

Traveling by car is a staple of our society. However, it is essential to remember that while car travel is relied upon by millions of Americans daily, using a vehicle is a privilege, not a right. Therefore, respecting the road and being a defensive drive around other drivers is essential. Unfortunately, car accidents are bound to occur with millions of drivers on the road daily.

Car accidents are scary events that bring with them a flood of different emotions. Fear, panic, anger, and sadness are all normal reactions to a car accident. Additionally, there are some common mistakes that victims make after a car accident of which we want you to be aware.

What Are the Most Common Mistakes Drivers Make After an Accident?

Many believe that if they drive carefully, they will never be involved in a car accident. This is false. Common mistakes people make after a car accident include the following:

• Leaving the scene of the accident – Leaving the scene of an accident is illegal in Texas. Do not leave the accident scene.
• Failing to call the police – Even if there are no injuries, you should still contact the police and ask them to prepare a report. You may find that you actually have injuries after your adrenaline wears off and having a record of the police officer’s investigation and conclusions is very helpful.
• Admitting fault – Never say that you are sorry after an accident. This can be used against you after you make a claim to obtain compensation for your injuries.
• Failing to exchange insurance information – After a car accident, a victim can sometimes be too injured or frazzled to obtain insurance information from the other driver. When this occurs, it becomes very difficult to make a claim through insurance because the responsible party is not identifiable, especially if police do not respond and prepare a crash report. Be sure and take a photo of the at fault party’s driver’s license, auto insurance card, license plate and a photo of the crashed vehicles at rest if you are able.
• Trusting insurance companies – The insurance company almost never has your best interests in mind. They are more concerned with making sure they obtain far more insurance premiums than claims paid. Do not give recorded statements to insurance companies. Their adjusters are far more sophisticated than most lay people and they design their questions to confuse and draw admissions to undermine your damages and create doubt about liability.
• Trying to handle the insurance claim on their own – all of the statistics show that injured victims who are represented by legal counsel obtain far more money than those who try to handle their own claim. Additionally, people who handle their own claims also have to arrange for their own treatment. Many treatment providers will not see patients who have been in a car accident. Lay people have no access to necessary experts such as crash reconstruction experts, neuroradiologists, life care planners and economists. Be sure to retain a qualified personal injury lawyer to help you with your claim.

Contact a Collin County Car Accident Attorney

Being in a car accident is not a pleasant experience. However, do not make it worse by making common mistakes that are too often made after a wreck. But most importantly, if you have been in a car accident, do not hesitate to contact the experienced McKinney car accident lawyers with Burress Injury Law. Call 214-726-0016 for a free and comprehensive consultation.