A car accident can leave people shaken, confused, and unsure about what to do next. Even a relatively minor collision can create medical, insurance, and practical issues that may continue long after the vehicles have been moved from the roadway.
In the hours and days following a crash, seemingly small decisions can sometimes make it harder to determine what happened or document the effects of the accident. A car accident lawyer can help accident victims understand the steps they should take after a crash and avoid common mistakes that could affect their recovery or legal options. Our friends at Isaacson, Schiowitz & Korson, LLP explain several common mistakes accident victims should be aware of.
Leaving Without Gathering Information
Unless emergency circumstances make it impossible, drivers should obtain basic information from the other people involved in the collision. This generally includes names, contact information, driver’s license information, license plate numbers, and insurance information.
It can also be helpful to identify the make and model of each vehicle and obtain contact information from witnesses.
Relying on memory is risky. Details that seem obvious immediately after an accident can become difficult to remember days or weeks later.
Failing to Document the Scene
If it is safe to do so, photographs can preserve important details about the accident scene.
Useful photographs may include vehicle damage, vehicle positions, debris, skid marks, traffic signals, signs, lane markings, weather conditions, and other relevant features of the roadway.
The scene may change quickly. Vehicles are moved, debris is cleared, and weather conditions change. Photographs taken shortly after the collision can provide a record that would otherwise disappear.
Ignoring Symptoms Because They Seem Minor
Not every accident-related injury is immediately obvious. Adrenaline and the stress of a collision can make it difficult to recognize pain or other symptoms at first.
A person who develops pain, dizziness, numbness, weakness, headaches, or other concerning symptoms after a crash should consider seeking appropriate medical attention. Serious or worsening symptoms may require prompt evaluation.
Medical care serves two purposes. Most importantly, it allows injuries to be evaluated and treated. It also creates a contemporaneous record of the symptoms a person experienced after the collision.
Making Assumptions About Fault
Immediately after an accident, drivers may apologize or make statements about what they think happened. An apology made out of concern does not necessarily establish legal responsibility, but unnecessary speculation can create confusion.
It is usually better to provide accurate factual information rather than guessing about speed, distance, visibility, or fault.
Accident responsibility can depend on many factors, including traffic controls, vehicle movements, witness accounts, photographs, physical evidence, and applicable traffic laws.
Posting Too Much on Social Media
Sharing information about an accident online can create unexpected problems. Insurance companies and attorneys may review publicly available social media content.
A photograph or casual comment may be interpreted without its full context. Even posts unrelated to the accident can sometimes raise questions about a person’s claimed limitations or activities.
Privacy settings provide some protection, but they should not be treated as a guarantee that a post will remain private.
Losing Receipts and Other Records
Accidents can generate paperwork quickly. Medical records, prescriptions, insurance correspondence, repair estimates, towing invoices, rental car receipts, photographs, and employment records may all become relevant.
Keeping these materials organized from the beginning can make it much easier to reconstruct what occurred months later.
A simple electronic folder, physical file, or combination of both can help.
Giving Inaccurate or Incomplete Information
Insurance companies often ask drivers to describe how an accident occurred. Accuracy matters.
If a person does not know an answer, it is generally better to say so than to guess. Estimates of speed, distance, and timing can be particularly difficult immediately after a collision.
The same principle applies to medical treatment. Patients should accurately describe their symptoms and how those symptoms have changed.
Repairing or Disposing of Evidence Too Quickly
In some cases, the condition of a vehicle or other physical evidence may become important. Before disposing of a severely damaged vehicle or other potentially relevant item, consider whether photographs, inspections, or other documentation may be necessary.
This is particularly important when the circumstances of the collision are disputed.
The Bottom Line
No one handles every moment after an accident perfectly. The aftermath of a crash is stressful, and safety and medical needs should always come first.
Once immediate concerns have been addressed, careful documentation can make a significant difference. Gathering accurate information, preserving photographs and records, paying attention to symptoms, and avoiding unnecessary speculation can help create a clearer picture of what happened and how the accident affected those involved.
