After a car accident, it’s natural to feel bewildered and helpless as you wait for emergency services to arrive, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your family at the scene and during the days to follow, such as taking photos and adding contact information of involved parties and eyewitnesses. As important as it is to know what to do after a car accident, it’s also important to understand what you shouldn’t do. Common mistakes during the tumultuous hours and days after the accident can impede your ability to recover compensation for your damages later.
Don’t Say Anything That May Be Misconstrued as Admitting Fault
Most people know not to say, “It was all my fault” after a car accident, but what you might not know are some of the ways that your statements at the scene can be used against you later. For example, saying “I never saw him coming,” becomes an admission that you weren’t looking or were distracted. “I’m so sorry,” becomes an admission of guilt even if you only meant that you were sorry someone was hurt.
Don’t Talk About Your Injuries or Lack of Injuries
Even if you think you’ve had a lucky escape after an accident, never say “I’m fine,” or talk about your injuries or lack of injuries to the police, the other driver, or anyone at the scene. This is a common mistake made in the moments when adrenaline masks many injuries. Other injuries like whiplash, internal organ damage, and even traumatic brain injuries often have delayed symptom presentation and develop symptoms later due to inflammation and internal bleeding. Insurance companies may sound compassionate in their ads, but in reality, they prioritize profit-making. They can dispute compensation claims based on your statements after the accident.
Don’t Delay Medical Treatment
Even if you feel like you have no injuries or your injuries are minor, it’s always best to go directly from the accident scene to a hospital or urgent care center for a medical evaluation and tell the doctor about even the most minor symptoms. This could identify early signs of injuries with delayed symptom onset. You will receive the earliest possible treatment and also put your injuries on record so you can recover compensation later.
Don’t Neglect to Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company
Even in fault-based insurance states like Texas, you must report a car accident not only to the police when there are injuries and property damage, but also to your insurance company—even if the other driver was entirely at fault. This puts the accident on the record and helps you obtain compensation if the other driver is uninsured, underinsured, or fled the scene.
Don’t Accept an Early Settlement Offer
When an insurance company recognizes that their policyholder is at fault for an accident, they may quickly reach out to an injury victim with a settlement offer—often before the injury victim knows the full extent of their damages. Early settlement offers are almost always for substantially less than the full compensation available. Accepting an offer requires signing away the right to file a lawsuit.
Don’t Post on Social Media
It’s common to share the details of our lives with family and friends on social media, but posting after an accident is a common mistake. Comments such as, “I had an accident, but thankfully I’m all right,” can be used against you later, even if you meant you were thankful to be alive. Posting photos during the weeks and months after an accident is also a common mistake. Even if you were smiling through your pain, a photo of you on the beach or at your child’s soccer game can be used as evidence that you are not as injured as you claim.
Don’t Neglect to Hire an Experienced Texas Car Accident Lawyer
Hiring an Austin car accident injury attorney after an accident is never a mistake. An attorney helps defend against common insurance company tactics to help you recover the maximum compensation available to you.