The moments following a car accident can be very stressful for anyone. However, you should know that the actions you take, or do not take, during this time can have a huge impact on your ability to successfully file an injury claim in the future. In order to help ensure you get all of the compensation you are entitled to after an accident, take the time to review the three common mistakes outlined below so that you can avoid making these same mistakes in your own life.

Mistake #1: Driving Vehicle Away From The Accident Scene

Your car has a few dents and scratches but it is still functional. Surely there is no harm in continuing to drive the vehicle until it can be repaired, right? Wrong. Until the damage to your vehicle has been documented by a reputable repair shop, the insurance company may be able to challenge the origin of the damages to your vehicle. In order to ensure that the origins of these damages are clearly documented, it is always best to have your vehicle towed directly to a repair shop after being in an accident. If you wish to continue driving the vehicle after the damages have been documented, that is your choice. However, you should be aware that any subsequent damages that may result for driving the vehicle in its current condition will not be covered under your accident claim.

Mistake #2: Refusing Immediate Medical Treatment

Not all injuries will immediately present themselves. In some cases, you may look and feel perfectly fine after being involved in an accident. However, this does not mean that you are uninjured.

Many internal and soft tissue injuries will take several hours or even days to present themselves. In some cases, these injuries will be serious and will require immediate medical attention in order to avoid potentially life threatening complications. For instance, without treatment, internal bleeding can easily lead to death without presenting any outward symptoms.

In order to ensure that your injuries are properly documented and treated after an accident, it is always best to seek immediate treatment even if you are not experiencing any symptoms.

Mistake #3: Making A Statement Regarding The Accident Prior To Consulting An Attorney

Unless you have a law degree, the fact is, you probably don't know who will be held legally liable for your accident. This is because the person who initially appears to be at fault may actually be cleared of any wrongdoing under current personal injury and traffic laws. For instance, you slam on your brakes to avoid hitting a squirrel and the car behind you rear ends you. At first, you feel as though the accident is your fault because you should have never stopped short. However, in the eyes of the law, the driver who hit you is actually to blame for the accident because they did not allow enough room in between vehicles for them to stop safely.

Oftentimes, people feel compelled to apologize for their actions, especially if they believe that these actions may have contributed in any way to the accident. Unfortunately, giving into this temptation can often backfire. Their admission of liability can be held against them when filing an injury claim, even if the other driver is later found to be at fault. This is why you should never make a statement of any kind regarding the accident until after you have consulted an accident attorney like Kuzyk Law.