What Not To Do After A Car Accident In Atlanta
Your entire day in Atlanta—and possibly even your entire week, month, or year—can be ruined by a car accident.
You have to cope with being absent from work, car damage, liability problems, and perhaps accident injuries.
Although they are awful situations, car accidents can occur to anyone at any time.
Many individuals are generally aware of what to do in the aftermath of a car accident, but it's also crucial to know what to avoid doing.
After a car accident, making the wrong decisions will only make matters worse.
It can mean the difference between receiving the recompense you deserve and being forced to foot the bill for injuries and property damage.
Making sure you avoid any mistakes after an accident can assist you, your Atlanta car accident chiropractor and your Atlanta accident lawyer get the best result possible.
We will discuss a few things you must never do following an auto accident in Atlanta in the article that follows.
Leave The Accident Scene
If you cause an accident and flee the scene, the accident scene becomes a crime scene.
Whether you were at blame for the accident or not, leaving the scene is against the law in many states.
Any vehicle engaged in a collision with damage must stay at the site.
No matter how tiny or unimportant the collision may seem, you should nevertheless stop your car.
To prevent another collision, go to the side of the road and pull out of traffic.
That brings up our following point.
Forget To Call 911
Make a 911 call after pulling over to the side of the road.
Some people mistakenly believe that if no one is hurt, they don't need to call emergency services.
Police must arrive on the site if you were in any kind of collision, even a little fender bender.
A police officer will record the specifics of the accident in a police report.
Establishing who was at responsibility for the accident, which is essential for your personal injury claim, depends on accident reports.
The details of the car accident, including the location of the road, the names and contact information of any witnesses, and an official account of how the accident happened, will be provided by law enforcement.
Make sure your accident attorney has a copy of the police report once you have one so they can use it as part of their inquiry.
Lose Your Cool
We comprehend your situation. Being involved in an automobile accident is the very last thing you need.
After the collision, your feelings will probably be on a high, and you might be in a lot of discomfort.
After the accident, you must, nevertheless, maintain your composure and never lose it.
Getting upset with the other driver will cost you later on when you are filing a claim.
Asking the other motorist whether they are okay is one of the few questions you should ask them.
Don't start yelling at them or accusing them of anything.
Losing your temper won't make anything different from what has already occurred.
Breathe deeply a few times, and then try to maintain your composure.
It's in your best advantage to be in a calm state of mind so you can evaluate any injuries and property damage and take the necessary action to report the accident and gather data.
Admit Guilt
Additionally, you shouldn't confess your guilt right away after the accident.
If you do, you are essentially admitting fault for the mishap, which might seriously harm your chances of recovering compensation as well as subject you to legal action or other penalties.
It's normal to desire to have issues resolved as soon as possible, and many individuals apologize right away.
An apology is basically admitting guilt.
Your remarks will be used against you by the other party and their personal injury lawyer, who will attempt to interpret your apology as an admission of guilt.
Many people are unaware of how much their words might hurt their case.
You don't really need to say much at the accident scene.
Let your personal injury lawyer handle most of the talking.
Help The Other Driver's Insurance Adjuster
After the collision, you might hear from the insurance provider for the other motorist.
If they do, be gracious but watchful.
Ask them to contact your insurance provider or accident attorney if they call so they can receive the information they require.
Give them no documented statements, and don't agree to anything if you haven't spoken with a lawyer beforehand.
Your attorney can provide their insurance agent with all the information they require.
Additionally, you should never accept a settlement too soon.
Most of the time, the first offer they make is not what you deserve, therefore you should let your lawyer negotiate for the best deal.
Forget To Exchange Information With The Involved Parties
After your accident, you could feel bewildered, disoriented, and stressed, making it incredibly simple to forget what to do.
The other driver's contact details and insurance information, including the name of their insurance provider and their insurance policy numbers, must be exchanged though.
Most car accidents are handled by insurance companies and never end up in court.
The most crucial information to discuss is insurance, but you should also acquire their name, address, contact information, and vehicle registration details.
Forget To Document The Car Crash
You need to gather as much as you can about the collision after exchanging information with the other driver.
Take as many pictures of the accident as you can with your phone whenever you get it.
Snap pictures of the cars, the license plates, and any injuries you may have sustained.
Take images of any skid marks or other debris on the road.
Take a picture of everything that wasn't functioning, such as a traffic signal, as well.
If there were any accident witnesses, ask them if they would be willing to provide a brief account of what they observed and acquire their names and contact details.
Record the date, time, and weather circumstances of the accident, as well as its exact location.
All of this information will be useful when making a settlement.
It may be challenging to demonstrate what truly transpired if you don't record the auto accident.
It may rapidly devolve into a he-said/she-said debate.
Neglect the Aftermath
Although the vehicle accident itself was certainly terrible enough, what happens next is frequently the most difficult aspect.
Following up on everything that has to be done, including seeking legal and medical counsel, is something you must make sure to do.
You should consult an accident doctor as soon as possible following the vehicle accident, even if you only have small wounds or don't feel hurt.
If you believe the other driver was at fault and you could have high medical costs, you should also see a lawyer.
You need a lawyer of your own if the other driver is threatening legal action against you or harassing you with insurance company personnel.
Additionally, you ought to file an insurance claim as quickly as feasible with your own insurance provider.
You should file your claim as soon as possible because your insurance company can have time restrictions.
To avoid being caught off guard by things like having to pay for a rental car out of pocket, you should be aware of what your insurance policy covers in advance.
Skip the Doctor
We briefly touched on this above, but regardless of how they are feeling, everyone involved in a car accident should visit a doctor.
This is advantageous to your health and wellbeing as well as giving your doctor the opportunity to record your injuries and uphold your legal rights.
Your injuries must be confirmed by a medical expert promptly after your accident if you wish to be reimbursed for medical expenses.
You can help ensure you receive adequate compensation by properly documenting your injuries and prognosis following your accident.
Additionally, having proof of your injuries increases the likelihood that you will settle for a fair amount without going to trial.
Forget To Contact A Car Accident Chiropractor
Atlanta accident victims frequently overlook the importance of seeing a chiropractor.
Your best course of action will be to visit a car accident chiropractor unless you require immediate medical assistance at the emergency room after your accident.
Chiropractors that specialize in car accidents can assess your injuries, provide a diagnosis, and create a personalized treatment plan for you.
Additionally, your car accident chiropractor will immediately note all of your wounds so you can provide your attorney access to these medical records.
There are many things that can go wrong during an automobile accident, but if you take proactive measures with regard to the matters under your control, you will receive compensation right away.
To start receiving treatment for your injuries and obtaining the medical documents required to succeed in your accident claim, schedule a free consultation with Arrowhead Clinic in Atlanta.