It is human nature to plan for the things that you want to experience, like an upcoming vacation, and to put off planning for things that you would rather avoid, like considering your death to draft an estate plan. Many people put themselves at a disadvantage by not considering the worst-case scenario until they experience it.
Car crashes are a perfect example. Your body and brain will have intense reactions to a crash. It can be hard to think in an organized manner after a sudden and dramatic experience. The wrong choices immediately after a car crash could put you in physical danger or increase your financial risks.
What are some of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to car crashes?
They don’t document the scene
Taking steps to ensure your safety and the safety of others after a crash is important. Moving the vehicles may be one of the earliest things you do. That way, traffic will continue flowing around your disabled vehicles, and you won’t have to worry about a secondary collision.
If you are able to do so, using a phone to take pictures and record video of the scene of the crash, the damage to your vehicles and even their placement on the road before you move them could play a major role in any claim that you make later. Ensuring that you get the other driver’s name, vehicle registration information and insurance documents will also be important.
They don’t get medical care or follow Medical advice
You may not realize how bad your injuries are if you have a traumatic brain injury or internal bleeding, as it could be some time before those issues present concerning symptoms. Doctors have the equipment and experience necessary to evaluate you for invisible injuries that could prove life threatening if left untreated.
When a doctor does diagnose you and recommends certain care, such as taking a leave of absence from work or attending physical therapy, following through will help protect your right to make a claim against the party at fault for the crash for medical expenses and lost wages. If you don’t follow medical advice, they may try to blame you for your medical and employment-related financial losses.
They don’t talk to a lawyer about the wreck
The more serious your injuries are and the more overt the other driver’s negligence or mistake was, the better your chances of securing compensation from an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. There might even be a third party with some financial or legal responsibility. Not only can they advise you on your rights, but they can manage the stressful process of negotiating a claim or filing a lawsuit so that your sole focus will be on your recovery.