Unfortunately, one of the most common occurrences in the United States is car accidents. Every year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 10.8 million car accidents. Fortunately, most don’t result in a fatality, but many, if not most, do result in bodily harm or physical damage to the automobiles involved. Subsequently, a car accident can quickly land you in court, having to defend yourself against experienced personal injury attorneys and trying to avoid an expensive car accident injury claim. If you want to help yourself avoid being slapped with a car accident compensation claim, follow these four tips for things you should never do following an accident.
Four Things You Should Really Avoid After a Car Accident
- NEVER Admit You’re at Fault
- Be Cool, Boy. Real Cool
- Don’t Flee the Scene
- Don’t Immediately Give the ‘OKAY’ on Repairs
As NRMA Insurance writes, the absolute worst thing you can do for yourself after an accident is to admit fault. If you admit fault, your chances of having to pay car accident settlements become much greater. Similarly, do not apologize. It may seem polite to do so, but as any experienced lawyer specializing in accident injury claims can tell you, apologizing may be seen as admitting fault.
If you want to appear sympathetic if you have to go to court for an accident injury claim, do not act crazy following an accident. As FindLaw.com suggests, losing your cool at the scene of the accident can be damaging to your case, especially if you’re found to be at fault. If you step out of the car and start slinging obscenities at the other party, the argument could be made you have issues with road rage, making it more likely you’ll have to make restitution.
Fleeing the scene of an accident is a crime in all 50 states, though the penalties vary with the jurisdiction. For instance, in New York State, fleeing the scene of a crime, colloquially referred to as a “hit-and-run,” can result in as little as 15 days in jail and a $250 fine or as extreme as four-years in jail and a $5,000 fine, according to Avvo.com. Play it smart and be a responsible driver to avoid a bigger legal issue.
InsuranceHotline.com writes that one of the most common mistakes drivers make after an accident is giving the ‘OKAY’ for repair work to start before an at-fault party has been established and an insurance adjuster has come to take a look at the damage to your vehicle. After your insurance company has given you an estimate, then take the car to a repairman to save on your repair bill.
Avoiding these actions is no guarantee that you won’t get a phone call from a lawyer with an accident injury claim. However, playing it smart never hurt anyone’s chances. For more information see this: St. louis auto accident lawyer