A car crash is a sudden and terrifying event that can leave you confused and unsteady. Unless you are left unconscious by the accident, it is important to retain presence of mind in its immediate aftermath.

There are certain things you should avoid saying and doing. Although it can be difficult to think through such matters at the time, here are the top 3 things you should never do after a car accident:

1. Admit fault

Even if you believe the accident was your fault, you should not admit this to the other driver. You do not have all the facts. You may think that a move you made led directly to the accident, but an investigation may prove otherwise. It might be the case that the other driver did something unwise or illegal to put you in that position.

2. Underestimate your injuries

You may feel fine. You may have no obvious pain or bleeding. You should still take yourself to the emergency room to get checked out. This should be done immediately after the accident. The doctors may spot a problem that you may be unaware of. If such a condition is expected to worsen, it may mean spending time in the hospital and away from work, both of which can lead to financial strain. If that happens, you will want to use the physician’s examination and report as the basis for a lawsuit.

3. Forget to gather evidence

You, the other driver, and eyewitnesses will probably all call the police. And you should never leave the scene of an accident until they have come, carried out a preliminary investigation, and taken your contact details.

You should also gather your own evidence. Make sure you take pictures of the damage done to both vehicles. You will want to take down the make, model, and color of the other car. You should also take photos of the positions of the two vehicles and of the larger scene in which the accident took place. And you should not leave the scene without taking the contact and insurance details of the other driver and the names and badge numbers of the police who responded to the crash.

The main point is to avoid exposing yourself to liability. If you have been injured in the accident and you want to sue, your case will be a lot stronger if your attorney can use evidence gathered from the time and place of the accident.