4 Big Mistakes People Make After a Crash
Nobody wants to be involved in a car accident. Many of us believe car accidents are unfortunate events that happen to other people. We see crushed cars and emergency vehicles by the roadside but remain detached. Most of us will be involved in three or four car accidents in our lifetimes. Most of us are woefully unprepared for an accident. In this blog post, we will list 4 big mistakes that many accident victims make after being involved in an accident.
Not Having Proper Documents in the Car: It is vital that you always have proper documentation of your car insurance and registration in your vehicle at all times. If you have an accident, you need to be able to provide these documents to the police officer at the scene. This includes a valid insurance card from the insurance company showing their logo, contact information, effective dates, and the vehicle insured. Some insurance companies like Geico have sections on their smartphone apps that allow you to pull up your insurance card on your phone. Your insurance documents are vital to protect you from potential tickets and lawsuits. Having the insurance policy does you no good if you can’t prove that the policy exists on the spot. It is as good as having no insurance policy at all.
Not Seeing a Doctor After a Crash: Even if you do not think you are seriously injured, you should see a doctor as soon as possible after a car accident. You may not feel pain or only feel mild pain, right after a car accident. However, that pain can increase or come up later, sometimes even a full day or two after the accident. There are many injuries (such as whiplash) that do not cause pain right away. Muscle soreness and joint stiffness can take many hours to manifest. However, if you see a doctor right away, they can take x-rays and may be able to diagnose injuries before major pain sets in. If you wait too long to have a doctor, look at your injuries, it greatly hurts your insurance claim. You may not be able to prove at that point that the injury was caused by the car accident
Giving Away Personal Information: Some people think that when they have a car accident, they should trade personal information with the other driver involved. This is a big mistake. The only information you should be providing to the other driver is your name and the name of your insurance company. All communications should go through the insurance companies. If you provide your personal information, you could set yourself up for harassment by the other parties involved.
Providing a Recorded Statement Without Legal Representation: Never provide a recorded statement without an attorney present. Anything you say, especially if recorded, can be held against you in court. Even if you are not at fault and you do not feel that answering the questions will hurt your case, it is better not to give any recorded statement without a lawyer present. Of course, if a police officer at the scene asks you questions, you should answer to the best of your ability. Do not say anything that could potentially incriminate you later and be used against you to prove fault.
Hire a Car Accident Attorney Miami Today!
After being involved in a car accident, it is important to make sure you obtain medical treatment for your injuries after a crash. You want to make sure your doctor is experienced treating patients who have sustained injuries in a car accident. It is also a great idea to hire a car accident attorney who is familiar with handling car accident claims. This is simply because Florida has specific laws that relate to car accidents, and you want to make sure you handle your car accident claim in the best manner. Hiring an attorney relieves you from the stress that comes with an accident and allows you to avoid dealing with insurance adjusters. Unless you have a background in insurance, car accident claims can be challenging to deal with. At Suarez and Montero, we have all the answers to your legal questions. We can also assist you in obtaining compensation for your injuries after a car accident if you were a passenger in the accident. Our attorneys are ready to provide proven legal representation and stand ready to protect your rights. We are available 24/7 to give you a free, no risk case consultation! At our firm, our policy is that if you don’t recover compensation, you won’t pay any fees for our services. Not to mention, we also provide free case consultations where we assess the circumstances surrounding your case and give you an objective overview of what steps you can take going forward if you decide to act against the party responsible for your injuries. For over 20 years, we have delivered quality legal representation for people who, through no fault of their own, have been injured in all types of accidents and incidents. We are available 24/7 to give you a free, no risk case consultation.
We serve clients throughout Florida including those in the following areas:
Miami-Dade: Aventura, Coral Gables, Doral, Fontainebleau, Hialeah, Homestead, Kendall, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Lakes, North Miami, Tamiami, and Westchester.
Broward: Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and Weston; and Palm Beach County including Boca Raton, Lake Worth, and West Palm Beach.
