Common Mistakes People Make After a Car Accident
If you or somebody you care about has been injured in a car crash in Atlanta, you may be entitled to compensation. This is particularly true if the other driver(s) involved in the case are at fault for the incident. However, injury victims can make mistakes after an accident occurs that jeopardize their ability to recover the compensation they are entitled to. Here, we want to discuss the most common mistakes that people make after a car accident occurs. Our hope is that you avoid these common mistakes and work with a skilled Georgia car accident lawyer who can help you throughout this process.
1. Not calling the police
Often, car accident victims agree not to call law enforcement for various reasons. In some cases, one or both drivers may want to avoid any insurance claim or traffic ticket. However, if there is no police officer who can provide an accident report, this could result in a person not being able to secure compensation for their injuries or property damage. Police officers prepare a crash report by documenting critical information about the accident, and not contacting them after a crash is a mistake.
2. Not seeking medical care
The absolute number one priority after a vehicle crash occurs is medical care. Even if a person does not feel much pain after an incident occurs, it is not uncommon for the signs and symptoms of many injuries to show up hours or days after the incident occurs. Any delay in seeking medical care could jeopardize an eventual injury settlement.
3. Admitting guilt
It can be natural to want to admit guilt if you think you did something wrong, but you need to avoid doing so after a crash occurs. Often, people admit guilt without even realizing that more than one party shares blame for the crash. Admitting guilt can dramatically affect the amount of compensation a person receives.
4. Failing to gather evidence
If it is safe to do so after a crash occurs, it is strongly advisable to use a phone or another type of camera to take photographs of everything at the scene. This can include damages, debris, skid marks, injuries, causes of the crash, and more. Additionally, if there were any eyewitnesses, crash victims need to get their names and contact information.
5. Accepting the first settlement offer
Insurance carriers are sometimes quick to offer a settlement in the hopes that an injury or property damage victim will not pursue the case any further. Often, the settlement offer is much lower than what the victims should actually receive. As soon as a settlement is agreed on, there will be no way for a victim to go back and secure more compensation later.
6. Waiting to file a claim
Delaying a car accident claim is a major mistake. Most insurance carriers require that the incident be reported very soon after it occurs, often within a day or two. Failing to report the incident to an insurance carrier could result in a delay or denial of the claim. Additionally, the Georgia statute of limitations is two years from the date an injury occurs. This means that an injury victim has a two-year window with which to file a claim or they will lose the ability to recover the compensation they deserve.
7. Not working with an attorney
Finally, one of the most significant errors that Georgia car accident victims make is not seeking legal assistance. Many people think they can handle the case on their own while not realizing just how complicated a claim can become. A Georgia car accident lawyer will analyze every aspect of the case and use their resources to prove liability. They will negotiate with aggressive insurance carriers and be prepared to take your case to trial if necessary.