Common Mistakes People Make Following A Car Accident 

Accident of two cars on a highway

A car accident is clearly a very stressful situation for anyone to go through. You will have many questions and worries going through your mind.

Before acting (or not acting), you should keep in mind the consequences of everything and be proactive. Here are some of the mistakes that many people make following a car accident.

Legal Representation

After you are involved in a car accident, you should contact a personal injury attorney right away. Insurance companies will try to contact you and receive a personal statement from you. This could be detrimental to your case because you could inadvertently waive your compensation. An attorney will read and analyze anything that an insurance company sends you and translate what it means. Furthermore, an attorney will be able to fight for you and make sure that you receive the monetary compensation that you deserve. Additionally, an attorney will be able to guide you through this process.

Posting On Social Media

Social media can often be used against you. Photos and statements can always be misconstrued and weaken your claim. While you should take photos and write everything down that you remember from the accident, you should refrain from posting anything on social media. Such photos can ruin your chances of a successful claim. Additionally, your friends and family can repost your photos and updates which could also be used against you.

Not Calling Authorities Or Exchanging Information

The first thing you should do following a wreck is to call the police. They can delegate what you need to do and report what happened. Furthermore, no matter what the situation is, you need the information of the person that you were involved in a car accident with. You never know what can happen in the future or if they will use facts against you. Make sure you know who the person is and how to reach them.

Not Seeking Medical Health

Medical care can be crucial to your claim. Showing that you have suffered injuries will prove that you need compensation. Most importantly, following the shock and stress of your car accident, you may not even realize that something is wrong. A professional doctor will be able to look at you and determine if you have been injured. You may need much more health care than you initially realized, and some injuries can be permanent. Many people want to just go home, but the smartest thing to do is going to the hospital.

Waiting Too Long

Each state has a statute of limitations to file a car accident claim. After that certain statutory time lapses, you will no longer have a case. Therefore, it is imperative to file within the time allotted so that you can be remedied. Otherwise, the court will bar your claim without even hearing your case. An attorney can inform you on the statute of limitations of your state and whether you still have time to sue, but it is always prudent to file a claim as soon as possible.

Contact Us

Do not wait to contact our experienced team of attorneys to represent you. Our attorneys at O’Brien and Ford are ready and capable to take on your case and make sure that you receive the compensation that you deserve. Please call us at (716) 330-2901 to receive a free consultation.