2 Things You Should Never Do If You Are In A Car Accident

If you are in a car accident, there are probably a million different things you are thinking about. You are worried about the safety of everyone involved, the damage to the car, and much more. However, in all the excitement, you shouldn't forget that car accidents breed personal injury lawsuits. If you are not careful, you could find yourself in the middle of a lawsuit down the road, which is why it is so important that you are protecting yourself. Here are some things that you should never do in a car accident.

1. Admit That You Caused The Accident

It is a natural reaction to make excuses for your behavior. As you get out to talk to the other person, you might be tempted to say something like, "the light was in my eyes, I didn't see you there" or "I looked down at my phone for one second and then BAM!" Although these statements may help to ease your conscious, they are terrible if the person decides to file a lawsuit. You cannot be sure that it was you that caused it, and even if you were doing something wrong, the other person may have felt that it was their fault. Letting them know that you believe it was all your fault gives the other party leverage. Instead, stick to the facts of the accident, report those facts to the police, and then let the police report and the insurance companies decide who was at fault.

2. Fail To Go To The Doctor Right After

You might think that because you sustained very few or no injuries that it is not necessary to go to a doctor. Sadly, this can really hurt you in the long run. For example, you may have had whiplash from the accident and thought it was just something simple, but then years later you are still dealing with back and neck pain. You may even find out that you need surgery to correct it. If you didn't go to a doctor right after the accident, there is no way to prove that the chronic pain was caused from the accident. Then you have no way of accessing your insurance or the other person's insurance if it was their fault to get help with your medical bills. Thus, play it safe and always go to a doctor and get x-rays so that you have an official medical report of your injuries, even mild ones.

You can protect yourself by avoiding these things. It is also a good idea to get in contact with a car accident lawyer if you do get involved in a personal injury lawsuit.

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