What Not To Do After A Car Accident In Atlanta

An auto accident in Atlanta can ruin your entire day and maybe even your week, month, or year.

You have to deal with missing work, damage to your car, liability issues, and maybe even accident injuries.

Car accidents are terrible experiences, but they can happen to anyone at any time.

Many people have a general understanding of what they should do after a car accident; it's also essential to understand what not to do.

Doing the wrong things after a motor vehicle accident will only make a bad situation worse.

It could be the difference between getting the compensation you deserve or having to pay out of pocket for injuries and damage caused by someone else.

Ensuring you don't make any missteps after an accident will help you and your Atlanta accident lawyer achieve the best outcome possible after your accident.

In a previous blog post, we discuss how much does it cost to see an Atlanta chiropractor after a car accident?

In the article below, we will go over a few things you should never do after an auto accident in Atlanta.

Table of Contents

• Leave The Accident Scene
• Forget To Call 911
• Lose Your Cool
• Admit Guilt
• Help The Other Driver's Insurance Adjuster
• Forget To Exchange Information With The Involved Parties
• Forget To Document The Car Crash
• Neglect The Aftermath
• Skip The Doctor
• Forget To Contact A Car Accident Chiropractor

 

 

Leave The Accident Scene

If you are involved in an accident and leave the scene, the scene of the accident turns into a crime scene.

In many states, it is illegal to leave the accident scene whether you were at fault or not.

Any vehicle involved in an accident that results in damage has to remain at the scene.

If you were involved in an accident, no matter how minor or insignificant it may seem, stop your car.

Pull out of traffic to the side of the road to avoid another collision.

That brings us to our next point...

Forget To Call 911

Once you've pulled off to the side of the road, call 911.

Some people think they don't have to call emergency services if no one is injured, but that's not true.

If you were involved in any type of accident, even a minor fender bender, you need law enforcement to respond to the scene.

A police officer will write a police report that details what happened in the accident.

Accident reports are crucial in establishing who was at fault for the accident, which is vital for your personal injury claim.

Law enforcement will detail the events of the car accident, including the road conditions, names and contact information of witnesses, and an official write-up of how the accident occurred.

Once you have a police report, make sure your accident attorney has it to use as part of their investigation.

Lose Your Cool

We get it. The last thing you need is to be involved in a car accident.

Your emotions will probably be running high after the collision, and you could be in a significant amount of pain.

However, you need to keep your head after the accident and never lose your cool.

Getting angry with the other driver will come back to bite you during the claims process.

One of the only things you need to ask the other driver is if they are okay.

Don't start blaming them for anything or yelling at them.

Losing your cool won't change anything that has already happened.

Take a few deep breaths and do all you can to stay calm.

It's in your best interest to be in a good frame of mind so you can assess any property damage and injuries and do what's needed to document the accident and gather information.

Admit Guilt

Another thing you shouldn't do immediately after the accident is to admit guilt.

If you do, you are admitting liability for the accident, which could ruin your chance of receiving compensation for your damages and expose you to a lawsuit or other penalties.

It's natural to want to resolve things as quickly as possible, and many people's first instinct is to apologize.

An apology is just as bad as admitting guilt.

The other party and their personal injury attorney will use your words against you and will try to turn your apology into an admission of guilt.

Many people don't realize how much what they say can negatively impact their case.

There's very little you need to say at the scene of the accident.

Let your personal injury attorney do most of the talking for you.

Help The Other Driver's Insurance Adjuster

The other driver's insurance company might contact you after the accident.

If they do, be polite, but be cautious.

If they call, ask them to speak to your insurance company or your accident lawyer to get the information they need.

Don't give them a recorded statement, and don't sign anything, especially if you haven't consulted with your lawyer.

Their insurance agent can get all the information they need from your lawyer.

And never accept a settlement off too quickly either.

The first offer they make is rarely what you deserve, so you should let your attorney negotiate the best offer possible.

Forget To Exchange Information With The Involved Parties

You may be confused, disoriented, and stressed after your accident making it very easy to forget what to do.

However, it's essential to exchange contact information and insurance information with the other driver, including the name of their insurance company and their insurance policy numbers.

The majority of car crashes are handled through insurance companies and never make it to court.

Insurance information is the most important information to exchange, but you should also get their name, address, phone number, and vehicle registration information.

Forget To Document The Car Crash

After exchanging information with the other driver, you need to gather as much information about the accident as possible.

Grab your phone and take as many pictures of the accident as you can.

Take pictures of the vehicles, license plates, as well as any injuries you've suffered.

If there are any skid marks or debris on the road, take pictures of them.

If something wasn't working, like a traffic light, take a picture of that as well.

If there were any eyewitnesses to the accident, see if they will write a short statement about what they saw and get their names and contact information.

Take note of the time and date of when the accident occurred, as well as the weather conditions that were present.

All of this information will help during the settlement process.

If you don't document the car accident, it can be difficult to prove what actually happened.

It can quickly turn into a he-said-she-said argument.

Neglect the Aftermath

The car wreck itself was probably traumatic enough, but the hardest part is often what comes after the accident.

You need to be sure to follow up on everything that needs to be taken care of, including getting legal and medical advice.

Even if you only have minor injuries or you don't feel injured after the car accident, you need to see an accident doctor right away.

You should also speak with a lawyer if you think the other driver was at fault, and you may be facing extensive medical bills.

If the other driver is threatening legal action or their insurance company representatives are hassling you, you need a lawyer of your own.

You should also start the insurance claim process with your own insurance company as soon as possible.

Your insurance provider may have time limits on when you can file a claim, so file right away.

You should know what your insurance plan covers ahead of time, so you aren't surprised by things like paying for a rental car out of pocket.

Skip the Doctor

We touched on this above, but everyone involved in a car accident should see a doctor no matter how they feel.

This is good for your health and well-being, and it also allows your doctor to document your injuries and protect your legal rights.

If you want to be compensated for medical bills, your injuries must be verified by a medical professional soon after your accident.

Proper documentation after your accident that creates a record of the nature of your injuries and prognosis will help ensure you are fairly compensated.

Documented injuries also make it more likely that you will receive a fair settlement without going to trial.

Forget To Contact A Car Accident Chiropractor

One of the main things people forget to do after an accident in Atlanta is to visit a chiropractor.

Unless you need emergency medical attention at the emergency room after your accident, your best option will be to see a car accident chiropractor.

Car accident chiropractors can evaluate and diagnose any injuries you've sustained and design a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Your car accident chiropractor will also document all of your injuries right away, so you can provide these medical records to your legal counsel.

There's a lot that can go wrong during a car accident, but if you are proactive about the things in your control, you'll be compensated before you know it.

Schedule a free consultation with Arrowhead Clinic in Atlanta so you can begin treatment for your injuries and secure the medical records you need to win your accident lawsuit. Click the button below.