Hi, my name is Kirsten Krueger and two years ago, I was in a car accident. I was stopped at a stop sign when the driver behind me slammed into my car. Due to my injuries, I had to spend a few days in the hospital and I was unable to work for two months. My medical care was expensive and without being able to work, I couldn't pay my bills. The car accident was stressful enough and then I had to worry about how I would pay my bills. After speaking with a car accident lawyer, it wasn't long before I was compensated for my medical bills and lost wages from work. I'm writing this blog to help others who have been a car accident and haven't received any compensation. As you read my posts, you'll learn how an attorney can help you if you're in a vehicle accident.
Car accidents can be pretty scary events, but the aftermath can even be more scary sometimes. It's just not something most people encounter too often, so they're not sure what to do. You'll find plenty of lists that tell you what to do after an auto accident, but there are actually plenty of things not to do that are just as important. Unfortunately, many people instinctively do things that aren't in their best interest. Here are three things you should not do after a car accident.
#1: Don't instinctively say you're okay and not call police
If you've been in what seems to be a small accident, you'll probably be tempted to just move on if there's no damage and if you're feeling fine. But that's problematic for a few reasons. The police may not always be able to make it to the scene, but DMV.org recommends always calling police for an accident. Not having an accident report is a quick way to get an insurance claim denied because there's no proof how the damage happened. And in some instances, the other driver may not want to involve police because of legal issues like no license or insurance.
#2: Don't instinctively assume fault
If you're in an auto accident, never assume guilt. Even if it's something as simple as saying "sorry" as you exit your vehicle, don't do it. It's instinctual to apologize even if the accident wasn't your fault, but admitting you caused the accident can be an easy way for your insurance company to deny your claim. And if you have any injuries from the accident, taking responsibility means the other driver is off the hook for those costs. If you get in an accident, tell police what happened. But if it's not immediately clear who caused the wreck, don't take that upon yourself.
#3: Don't instinctively call your insurance company
This may run counter to what you think you should do, but calling your insurance company right away isn't something you want to do. For starters, you'll still be out of sorts from the accident if you call right away, and you could easily misstate information that could get your claim denied. In addition, you should hold off on calling your insurance company until you've had a doctor check you out and fully assess your condition. And if you have serious injuries, you should be calling a lawyer before you call your insurer. Your initial conversation with your insurance company after a wreck is huge in determining how things play out.
If you're even in a car accident, your first step should be to call the police. Once that's done and you've been checked out by a doctor, make sure you call an auto accident attorney like Kathleen Kentish Lucero Atty At Law to help guide you through the process. Navigating the aftermath of a car accident can be tricky, and sometimes getting help can be the best thing to do.
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