Common Mistakes Drivers Make after a Car Accident

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Car Accidents

Immediately after a car accident it can be hard to know what to do. Even in accidents where nobody needs emergency treatment, everyone will still be experiencing some type of shock. The actions you take in the moments and days after a car accident can make a big difference in your ability to get properly compensated for your injuries. Here are three common mistakes people make after they have been in a car accident.

Mistake One: Admit Fault or Apologize

You have just been through a traumatic event. You may see that the other driver is hurt. The natural human thing to do is sometimes to say you are sorry. You never want to admit that you were at fault for the accident or apologize to the other driver. This human kindness can later be used against you, even if you were not at fault for the accident.

You should make sure the other people involved in an accident are okay. You should be polite and exchange information, but you should not admit you were at fault or apologize at the accident scene. You may not know everything that caused the accident.

Mistake Two: Fail to Report the Accident to the DMV

In Illinois you are required to file an accident report with the DMV whenever you are a driver in a car accident where:

• Someone was injured; or
• There was $1,500 or more of property damage.

If you fail to file a crash report you can have your driver’s license automatically suspended. At the scene, it can be difficult to know if anyone was hurt or what the amount of damage was. If the other driver files a report and you do not, you may get your license suspended.

It is better to be safe than sorry. If you have been in an accident, file a DMV crash report.

Mistake Three: Give a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company

After a car accident you will receive a call from the insurance company of the other driver. Insurance companies try to investigate accidents quickly and assign fault so they can process claims as quickly and cheaply as possible. Often an insurance adjustor will ask you to give a recorded statement. You should not talk to an adjustor about the specifics of a case until you have met with a lawyer to talk about your rights.

Giving a recorded statement can badly affect your ability to later get fairly compensated for your injuries or even your property damage. Remember you may have only been in a handful of car accidents in your entire life, the adjustor deals with them every day.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a serious accident, you need to contact an experienced and knowledgeable Lake County personal injury attorney. Call the law firm of Salvi & Maher, LLP at 847-662-3303 today to schedule a consultation.

Source:

http://www.dmv.org/il-illinois/accident-guide/