If someone else causes your car accident, chances are, they’ll be held liable. You’ll file a claim against their insurance company. Either the claim is paid, or you’ll hire an experienced car accident lawyer in Indianapolis to appeal your car accident suit.
The problem is, if you don’t do what you’re supposed to do after your car crash, you can make your lawyer’s job very difficult. No matter how skilled the attorney, if they don’t have the evidence they need, they can’t prove your car accident suit.
You’d be surprised how many people destroy their chances of getting compensation. Some do it within minutes of their car accident. Don’t let this happen to you. And, if you have made some of these mistakes, you need to call a car accident lawyer in Indianapolis immediately. The sooner they can try to fix your mistakes, the better their chances of proving your claim.
You Don’t Call the Police
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is by agreeing to not call the police. You have no idea why the other driver asks you not to call the cops. They may say it’s just to make things easier for both of you. They agree to exchange license and insurance information. They may even promise to admit the accident was their mistake. You naively believe them and go about your day.
In reality, there could be any number of reasons why they ask you not to call the police. Some of these include:
- They don’t have a valid license and didn’t want to get a ticket
- They have no insurance
- They’re driving a stolen car
- They are under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- They’re in the middle of committing a crime
- They have active warrants
You never know why the other driver may be asking you to avoid the police. But you have to assume the worst. You also need to protect your rights. That’s why you need to call 911 as soon as possible after your Indianapolis car accident.
You Refuse to Go to the Hospital
Most people suffer at least minor injuries following a car accident. You may think you’re fine. You’d rather just go home and figure out how to get your car fixed. The last thing you want to do is spend the day in the emergency room.
Unfortunately, that can be the worst thing to do. You need to get checked out by a medical professional after your wreck. You have no idea what kind of injuries you’ve sustained. For all you know, you have internal injuries such as organ damage or a traumatic brain injury. If left untreated, these things can be dangerous, even fatal.
The other reason you need to go to the hospital is to get medical records. If you have no documentation of your injuries, you have no basis for your car accident suit. In order for your Indianapolis car accident lawyer to prove your damages, they need to show you were injured.
If you don’t go to the hospital, you tie your lawyer’s hands. And, if you wait too long to go to the hospital, the defendant will claim that something other than your car accident caused your injuries.
You Admit You Were at Fault
Some people hate confrontation. Just to be agreeable at the scene of the crash, they tell the other driver they were at fault. Or, they admit that the accident was both of their faults. The other driver will tell their attorney this. It will be used against you both in court and by the insurance company.
Never admit that you were at fault. When you’re talking to your car accident lawyer in Indianapolis, tell them the truth. Don’t leave nothing out. Let them determine who was at fault. Once you say the accident was your fault, you can’t take it back. It will be very difficult for your attorney to discount this kind of statement.
Contact a Skilled Car Accident Lawyer in Indianapolis
If you or your loved one have been injured in a car accident, you may need help. A lot of people make simple mistakes that cost them all or part of their legal compensation. It’s important to follow these simple tips if you get into a car accident in Indiana.
Call Rowe & Hamilton today and schedule your initial consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer in Indianapolis. The consultation is free and you pay nothing until you settle your car accident suit.
