5 Things to Avoid After a Car Accident
The moment you realize you’ve been in a car accident, countless thoughts may run through your head. While there is a general procedure for handling such events, it’s important to recognize there are some things you should avoid doing.
1) Underestimating Your Injuries
Even if you’re only in a minor fender-bender, it’s important to seek medical attention for you and any other parties who may have been injured. While you may feel fine, you could develop the symptoms to serious injuries days later.
A medical professional should perform a complete evaluation after you’re in an accident. You may receive a diagnosis that you need to treat. That diagnosis and treatment plan will also need to be reported to your insurance company for future compensation purposes.
2) Neglecting to Inform Law Enforcement and Your Insurance Company
After seeking medical attention, you’ll need to inform the police of the accident. This is required by Wisconsin law. They will need to make a formal report of the incident – which both insurance companies will receive. As soon as you are able to, report the accident to your auto insurer. The longer you wait to report the crash to your insurance company, the less chance you have of receiving the financial award you deserve.
3) Cleaning Up the Scene
While you might be concerned about debris in the road, it’s best to leave the accident scene as it happened. Police and investigators will want to examine the scene in order to determine fault. If you decide to move vehicle pieces or glass, you might implicate yourself.
Instead, take photos of the accident scene. These can be used in your defense.
4) Taking Responsibility for the Accident
Car accidents are often traumatic experiences, but do what you can to keep control of your emotions. Do not apologize to the other driver and avoid saying anything that would place you at fault. Anything you say could be used against you by insurance companies when it comes to your settlement.
5) Accepting Your First Settlement Offer
The goal of any insurance company is to minimize their costs. They may try to do this by offering you the lowest settlement possible. You’ll want to evaluate their offer against your medical bills, vehicle damages, and any other applicable expenses. If you feel you are being swindled by your insurance company, it’s best to seek legal advice.
Dealing with the number of phone calls and amount of paper that comes with resolving a car accident can be overwhelming. If your Milwaukee car accident was caused by the negligence of another driver, you deserve knowledgeable representation to help you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact our Milwaukee, WI car accident injury lawyers today for a free evaluation of your claim.
