Written by: Emily Joswiak • January 14, 2022• Auto

Common Mistakes People Make After an Auto Accident

Though an accident is an unfortunate circumstance, people make several common mistakes immediately following the accident that they shouldn’t.

You may think you know precisely what to do in the case of an accident, but that’s far easier said than done. The scene after a car accident is often chaotic, and it’s easy for people to get caught up in the chaos and make mistakes.

To stop that from happening to you, you need to know the most common mistakes people make after an auto accident. This way, you can avoid potential disasters should you get into an accident. In these situations, knowledge is power. Read on to learn about the easiest mistakes to make in the aftermath of a wreck.

Admitting Guilt

When an accident occurs, it’s normal to want to resolve it as quickly as you can. You might also feel guilty if you think the accident was your fault. A common mistake people make is to apologize and admit fault immediately. While that may seem polite, it’s not advisable to say after an accident.

Most states allow the other side to tell the jury about what you said after the accident. If you immediately pled guilty, that can come back to bite you big time. Our advice? Let your lawyer do the talking.

Not Gathering Evidence

After an accident, the first thing you should do is take pictures. You’re going to want to document absolutely everything. Take pictures of any minor injuries you have, the damage to your car, and more. It would help if you also wrote down the names of any witnesses and their contact information. If your accident becomes a matter of law, all this evidence will help you out immensely.

Not Going to the Doctor

Even if you don’t feel like you’re hurt at all, it’s imperative to go to the doctor. That way, your physician can thoroughly document your injuries. Not only that, but some injuries will take time to manifest. You may feel fine at the scene of the accident, but that could be due to adrenaline. Whiplash, aches, pains, and other injuries usually pop up the next day. Also, should your case go to court, you’ll have complete documentation of your injuries.

Not Calling the Police

No matter how severe the accident is, calling the police is always necessary. The police will collect valuable evidence that can help you out later. Not only that, but they will prepare a crash report that contains important information.

These are the most common mistakes people make after an auto accident. Now that you know what they are, you can avoid them in case of an accident. It’s imperative to call the police, gather evidence, not admit guilt, and go to the doctor.

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Last modified: January 15, 2022