Unfortunately, accidents do happen at times. An accident can ruin your entire day and often sends those involved into a state of panic, causing them forgetting the correct measures to take. After you are involved in an accident, there are precautionary steps that you should take to ensure your own safety and the safety of anyone else involved. There are also things you should never, ever do when involved in a wreck. Keep reading below to see what steps you shouldn’t take when involved in an automobile accident.
Leave the Scene
This one is a given, right? Well, unfortunately for some of us it is not. If you are involved in an accident, you should never leave the scene. It doesn’t matter if no one is injured or the damage is minor, regardless of whether it looks serious you must check on others involved and report it to law enforcement. If you fail to report it to law enforcement, you have committed a crime.
Forget to Report the Accident to 911
There is a common belief that if no one was injured in the wreck, it is unnecessary to call 911 and report the incident. While this idea can seem great at times, it is actually a bad one. Although you and the other driver may agree to exchange insurance and not involve the authorities, there is one large thing you should take into consideration: What if their insurance is expired, or even real? It is said that as many as one in seven drivers has no car insurance. If you don’t get a police report documenting your wreck, you will never have proof that it even happened.
Get Angry
No one ever wants to get into a car accident. Emotions will be running high but remember to keep your cool. Generally speaking, the accident was not caused on purpose and everyone involved is probably experiencing unpleasant emotions at that time. You should always check on the others involved, and not lose your cool. Make sure everyone is okay and avoid playing the blame game it won’t make the situation better for anyone. Take some deep breaths in order to help you stay calm so you can assess the situation as needed.
Admit Fault
You should never admit that you were at fault at the scene of an automobile accident or while in conversation with insurance. Be honest about what happened, but try to avoid saying you are to blame because these statements can be later used against you.
Neglect Injuries
If you are experiencing a persistent pain following your accident, be sure to visit your doctor and get it checked out. You may also want to get in touch with a lawyer if you think you will be facing large medical bills.
While we hope that you never have to experience an accident, if you do, be sure to take these steps into consideration and remember NOT to do the above.
Would you like to know more about what you can do to secure your family and household and protect their financial future? The Mestayer Law Firm provide fast, effective, professional and cost-effective expertise in the following legal fields: estate planning: including Trusts, Wills, Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives; Social Security Disability cases, tax law Family Law, Probate of Wills, Administration of Estates, Will contests and abuses of Powers of Attorney; and personal injury cases. For more information, visit www.pascagoulalaw.com or call us at 228-762-1193.
No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. This article does not create an attorney-client relationship. I am licensed to practice law in Mississippi and have based the information presented on US laws. This article is legal information and is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be seen as legal advice. You should consult with an attorney before you rely on this information. Any information provided in this blog is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge, but that there may be omissions, errors, or mistakes.