A car accident can happen in seconds, but its consequences may continue for months or years. Injured individuals may face medical bills, missed work, vehicle repairs, physical pain, and ongoing uncertainty.
What you do after an accident can affect your health and any insurance or personal injury claim that follows. Here are five mistakes to avoid.
1. Failing to Seek Medical Attention
Some injuries are immediately obvious. Others, including soft-tissue injuries or certain head injuries, may not become noticeable until hours or days later.
Seek appropriate medical attention and explain all symptoms to the provider. Delaying treatment may affect your health and could allow an insurance company to argue that the injury was not serious or was unrelated to the collision.
Follow your provider’s instructions and attend recommended appointments.
2. Admitting Fault at the Scene
After an accident, people sometimes apologize automatically, even when they do not know exactly what happened.
Remain calm and exchange the required information, but avoid guessing about fault. There may be evidence you have not yet seen, including surveillance footage, witness testimony, vehicle data, road conditions, or another driver’s phone records.
3. Failing to Document the Accident
When it is safe to do so, gather as much information as possible:
- Photograph the vehicles and damage
- Photograph the roadway and surrounding area
- Record weather and traffic conditions
- Obtain witness names and contact information
- Save the other driver’s insurance information
- Request the police report information
- Photograph visible injuries
Evidence can disappear quickly. Vehicles are repaired, witnesses become difficult to locate, and surveillance footage may be deleted.
4. Giving a Recorded Statement Without Preparation
An insurance adjuster may contact you shortly after the accident and request a recorded statement. Although the representative may sound helpful, the insurance company is also evaluating its financial exposure.
You should be accurate and honest, but avoid speculation or minimizing your injuries. Consider speaking with an attorney before providing a detailed recorded statement or accepting a settlement.
5. Accepting a Settlement Too Quickly
An early settlement may appear attractive when medical bills are arriving, and you are unable to work. However, accepting a settlement generally requires you to release the responsible party and insurer from additional liability.
Before agreeing to a settlement, you should understand:
- The full extent of your injuries
- Whether future treatment may be required
- Your past and future lost income
- The cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle
- Whether other insurance coverage is available
- How the accident has affected your daily life
Once a claim is settled, you may not be able to request additional compensation if your condition becomes worse.
Protecting Your Right to Seek Compensation
Personal injury matters are subject to legal deadlines. The applicable deadline may vary depending on the circumstances and whether a public entity is involved. Acting promptly allows an attorney to preserve evidence, investigate the accident, and identify all potentially responsible parties.
The Law Offices of George L. Fernandez represents clients injured in auto, motorcycle, pedestrian, and bicycle accidents, as well as families affected by wrongful death.
Call 562-495-7900 to schedule a consultation with our office.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. The value and outcome of a personal injury claim depend on its individual facts and circumstances.
