Auto accidents can make for troubling circumstances, especially if victims have been injured. No matter what the accident may involve, your first priority should always be to ensure that you and any other involved parties are safe and that any victims receive the necessary medical attention.

In any circumstance, it’s important to remember that what you say and do after a traffic crash can affect the outcome of your personal injury case, should you choose to file one. At The Daspit Law Firm, we work with many victims and families who have suffered losses in preventable auto accidents and we have seen how certain mistakes can affect victims’ rights to compensation.

To help you protect yourself and your right to compensation after a car accident, here are three things to avoid:

• Not Calling the Police - Aside from providing any necessary emergency services or medical treatment, a call to the police can be very important after an accident. Law enforcement officers can act as objective third parties who can take notes about the incident and statements from involved parties and witnesses. The police report can be an important factor in your personal injury case, but remember not to discuss fault - there may be factors involved you don’t know about.
• Not Getting Medical Treatment - Getting timely medical treatment is crucial to both your health and your future injury claim. After an accident, it can be difficult to detect pain or for symptoms to manifest, especially when adrenalin is still running high. When you don’t seek timely treatment - either because you don’t think you need it or don’t want to - you place yourself at risk. Courts may look at the situation as a sign that your injuries were not significant, even if they were all along.
• Trusting the Insurance Company - Insurance companies are corporations in business to make money, not to pay injured victims. Don’t be misled by insurance companies into taking a settlement that is less than you deserve or saying something that impacts your ability to recover full and fair compensation. It’s best to speak with an experienced lawyer about your rights and case and to allow them to speak with insurance companies on your behalf.

Again, the steps you take after a traffic accident can mean the difference between securing the compensation you deserve and not recovering what you need. Learn more about your rights after an accident by contacting The Daspit Law Firm today.