What Should I do After an Auto Accident?

totalled rear end of car from car crash

When an accident occurs, the people involved usually feel rattled and shaken. The scene of an auto accident is often chaotic and confusing. From assessing the damage done to your vehicle, to making sure that you obtain the other driver’s information, the actions you take following a collision can significantly impact your accident claim. In this blog, we explain what to do after you have been in a car accident.

Don’t Apologize for the Accident

Often, people will feel obligated to apologize to other drivers or witnesses for an accident. Even when the accident isn’t their fault, social conventions seem to force these people to say sorry for the inconvenience. Although our society values politeness, apologizing for an accident can hurt you’re your claim to damages. Any form of apology can be taken as an admission of fault by an insurance adjuster. Although you might feel rude, it’s important that you avoid apologizing at all costs. Don’t say statements like:

  • “I didn’t see you.”
  • “I wasn’t paying attention.”
  • “I’m sorry about that.”
  • “I’m fine.”
  • “I’m okay.”

Each of these statements can potentially harm your accident claim

Take Pictures of the Accident Scene

After an auto accident, you should make sure that all parties involved are safe. Call 911 to report any injuries. After you have made sure that everyone is safe, you can start taking pictures of the accident scene.

The pictures you take should clearly show the progression of the accident. Get quality images of any evidence that can be used to establish property damage or injuries from the accident. This can be very useful later on. Remember, the quality of your pictures will matter in court, so take the best pictures that you can. Avoid taking blurry or pixelated photos that do not make for good evidence.

Filing an Insurance Claim after an Auto Accident

After a car accident, your insurance company may make you an offer, however, it is very important to remember that insurance companies usually have their own best interest at heart, not yours. Often when an insurance company makes an offer, it is not as much as they are truly willing to pay, unfortunately, however, after an offer is accepted you will not be eligible to pursue further compensation from them. This is why it is so important to contact a member of our team for a FREE consultation. Call today and learn what your case may be worth.