At the time of your car accident, you were likely panicked about what might happen next. You may have wondered the following: Is the other driver injured? Whose fault was it? Will my insurance cover the damage? Although it’s not easy to compose yourself after an accident, you need to stay level-headed as best you can.
Continue reading to learn about the emotional effects of a car accident.
Car Collisions Are Emotionally Taxing
After an accident, it’s natural to grapple with anger, stress, anxiety, or even depression. Although you need time to grieve, you also need to prepare for what’s to come. You will need to determine fault, contact your insurance company, file a police report, and you may have to seek medical treatment. Take a deep breath and approach the incident with clarity.
Whatever the circumstance, here are three actions you should avoid after an accident.
1. Failing to Involve the Police
Many drivers underestimate the importance of calling the police after an accident, especially if it was minor. No matter how an accident unfolds, it’s crucial to file a police report to avoid drawn-out, “he said, she said” stories in the future. Filing a report will speed up the claims process and create a paper trail in the case of long-term injury, or if you need to resolve automobile troubles.
2. Admitting Fault
Admitting fault to the other party’s insurance company automatically puts you and your insurance company at a disadvantage. While you may be tempted to declare the crash was your fault to get the aftermath over with—even if you didn’t do anything wrong—you must remember assigning fault isn’t your responsibility. Let law enforcement and any lawyers who may handle this case determine the facts.
3. Denying Injuries
Just because you feel fine after an accident doesn’t mean you’re not injured. You may experience a soft tissue injury, which refers to muscle, tendon, and ligament damage. Unlike a bone fracture, soft tissue damage can take days, or even weeks, to manifest; this typically results in pain, swelling, and reduced mobility. Unfortunately, this type of injury doesn’t show up on X-rays, making them more challenging to diagnose and document.
Furthermore, adrenaline rushes (which are common after car collisions) can mask major and minor injuries. If you insist on avoiding medical treatment, you may not be able to receive personal injury compensation from the at-fault party if you develop injuries weeks later.
Your safest bet is to pursue prompt examination, even if you’re not experiencing discomfort, as this is the only way to prove your injuries are the result of the accident.
Contact Flickinger • Boulton • Robson • Weeks
If you or a loved one has been injured due to another driver’s negligence, Flickinger • Boulton • Robson • Weeks is here to help. We understand stress, anger, and confusion almost always accompany a car collision. When you work with us, we will be your advocate and use our experience to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. We have offices in Utah County and Salt Lake County. Schedule your free case evaluation today.