Avoid Making These Mistakes After Your Car Accident
Car accidents are traumatic and the claim filing process that follows it is often not much better, which is why it’s so common for car accident victims to make errors that could end up weakening their claims. Read on to learn more about the top mistakes to try and avoid after being involved in a crash.
Leaving the Scene of the Accident
One of the biggest mistakes that an accident victim can make after a crash is to leave the scene of the accident. In fact, doing so in Florida is illegal if the crash resulted in a physical injury or at least $500 in property damage. With even small scratches and dents often costing this much to repair, this threshold is usually met in most car accident cases. Besides being legally required, staying at the scene of an accident is also beneficial if the victim later needs to file a claim, as the insurance provider will need the other party’s contact information and insurance details to proceed.
Failing to Call the Police
Again, in Florida, accident victims are required to report an accident that caused a physical injury or property damage. Even if it weren’t required, however, taking this step is important, as law enforcement officers can not only help obtain medical aid if necessary, but can take down a police report, with details about the accident. These neutral, official reports can act as crucial pieces of evidence for victims who need to file a claim with their insurer or pursue legal action in court.
Failing to Get Medical Attention
Another common mistake that we see among car accident victims is a reluctance or failure to get treatment. Some injuries don’t manifest right away and failing to see a doctor could delay diagnosis and treatment, resulting in a longer recovery period. Delaying medical care can also provide the other driver’s insurer with the opportunity to deny your claim, as they may argue that the injury in question wasn’t actually related to the crash, but to another event that happened in the period of time between the accident and when the victim obtained a medical opinion.
Admitting Fault
While it’s natural to want to apologize or to try to accept part of the blame for a crash out of courtesy, doing so can have devastating consequences for an eventual insurance or legal claim. Avoid admitting fault at the scene of the crash and let the authorities and experts determine fault. There may be circumstances of which you are not aware that affected the cause of your crash.
Accepting an Early Settlement
Many car accident victims are immediately faced with expensive medical bills and vehicle repair costs. This can be extremely stressful, which is why many claimants are tempted to accept the first settlement offer they receive from an insurer. Before doing so, however, it’s important to work with an attorney, as it is not uncommon for insurers to purposely make unfairly low offers in an attempt to settle a claim more quickly.
Seek Compensation for Your Car Accident Today
If you have questions about the claims process or want to avoid making a mistake that could jeopardize your case, please reach out to the experienced Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers at Boone & Davis today.
