The most certain thing about accidents is that they are uncertain.

Moreover, no one ever wants to be in a car accident. But unfortunately, accidents happen every day. If you find yourself involved in a fender bender, there are some things you should do—and some things you shouldn’t do. Read this article till the end, and thank us later.

Not Contacting a Car Accident Lawyer

The last thing you want to do is handle everything independently after a car accident. We advise calling car accident lawyers ASAP. Here’s how they can help.

Recover Damages

If you were injured in a car accident, you might be able to recover damages. You can recover compensation for your lost wages and medical bills. If someone was at fault for causing the crash, that party must also pay for their negligence.

Negotiate With Insurance Companies

Insurance companies are in the business of making money, not paying out claims. As such, they will often try to lowball accident victims in hopes of settling their claims for as little as possible. A car accident lawyer can help you negotiate with insurance companies and get the full value of your claim.

Build a Strong Case

The insurance company will do everything it can to deny your claim. They’ll look for any reason not to pay you, including blaming your accident on something other than their driver’s negligence. A car accident lawyer knows how to build a strong case against the at-fault driver that will hold up in court.

Peace of Mind

Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident can be stressful and overwhelming. Hiring a car accident lawyer can take some of the burden off your shoulders and give you peace of mind knowing that your case is in good hands.

Not Calling the Police

The officers who respond to the scene will file a report, which can be useful evidence if you decide to file a personal injury claim. In addition, the police can help keep everyone at the scene safe and facilitate exchanging information between the parties involved in the accident.

Failing to Exchange Information

Speaking of exchanging information, you must exchange insurance information with the other driver involved in the accident. You should also get their contact information to contact them later if necessary. If there are any witnesses to the accident, make sure to get their names and contact information as well.

Admitting Guilt

It’s important to avoid admitting fault for the accident, even if you think you might be responsible. In many cases, it’s not immediately clear who is at fault for an accident. Admitting guilt could jeopardize your chances of receiving compensation for your injuries.

Not Documenting Your Injuries

This means taking pictures of your injuries and tracking their progress over time. This documentation will be essential if you file a personal injury claim.

Failing to Seek Medical Treatment

This will help you recover from your injuries more quickly and create another record of your injuries—one that could come in handy if you decide to file a personal injury claim later on down the road.

Delaying in Filing a Claim

You should file your claim as soon as possible after suffering an injury. This will ensure that you can recover from your injuries and receive compensation for any losses incurred by accident.

Leaving the Accident Scene

It may be tempting to leave the scene of a minor accident, especially if there isn’t much damage and no one appears to be injured. But leaving the scene of an accident is a crime in most states. And if you’re involved in a hit-and-run, you could face severe penalties, including jail time. So no matter what, it’s always best to stay at the scene of the accident and exchange information with the other driver.

Forgetting About Other Passengers

If you have passengers in your car at the time of the accident, their safety should be your top priority—even before exchanging information with the other driver or checking for injuries yourself. Once everyone in your car is out of harm’s way, you can worry about other things like getting insurance information from the other driver or filing a police report. 

Final Word

Car accidents can be stressful and confusing. However, it’s important to avoid making mistakes that could jeopardize your injury claim—such as failing to call the police or admitting guilt for the accident. Remember the above mistakes to ensure you properly deal with the accident aftermath.

If you still have any questions or concerns, feel free to ask us in the comments.