No matter how careful you are on the road, something unexpected is bound to happen, and it can be something that you hadn’t even thought could happen and thus couldn’t predict or even imagine could happen. It’s often these little things that we overlook that prove to come back to bite us in the butt. In this article, we will briefly be covering what the most common things people forget to do when they are involved in an accident.
Making an Admission of Guilt
Something as simple as a heartfelt apology might be turned against you in court and used to claim that if you are apologizing, you are thus aware of your own guilt, and you must be more at fault than the other party involved. Even if it seems to you that you are in the wrong, you could be mistaken, and a thorough investigation might lead to further evidence being discovered that would lead investigators to think otherwise. It is thus in your best interest to remain as quiet and courteous as possible until you can get access to legal representation or your own lawyer.
Driving Away from the Scene
You don’t ever want to make it seem like you’re guilty of a hit-and-run. In this day and age, you really can’t run too far, and even if you’re lucky enough that nobody sees your number plate, a security or traffic camera will be able to provide footage and still images of it and the incident. Not only that, but it’s also illegal to drive away from the scene of an accident that you’ve just been involved in personally. You will be expected to remain on the scene until law enforcement officials can make their way to you and write a report.
Not Alerting the Relevant Authorities
If you want the law to be able to mediate between you and the person you were involved in the accident with, you must always remember that law enforcement officials have to be alerted about the incident as early as possible. This will allow them to make their own assessment of the situation, which they will write down in a report, and it will then be admissible in a court of law in the event that any mediation should take place.
Forgetting to Collect Evidence
You are also allowed to take photos and videos of what happened, to further document and make your case in court, should the case go that far. This will greatly help your lawyer make your case go smoothly, as well as understand what really happened. In order to better defend a client, a lawyer specialized in accidents will always ask if they have collected evidence. The personal injury lawyers of Hilda Sibrian Law Offices, who operate in the Houston, TX area, advise attorneys to use their client’s evidence smartly.. It is not advisable to collect real physical pieces of evidence, as these should remain untouched as they will form part of the formal forensic investigation. Make sure that you leave everything in place, and to document as much as possible.
Sharing Too Much Information with Insurers
This might sound odd, but you should refrain from giving any recorded statements to the at-fault party’s insurance company. The reason for that is that they are actually looking to fault you at any cost; anything you say to them that they can use against you, they will. The same goes with your own insurer; you should only give them essential information while making sure to remember to avoid getting into too many details, as they might end up being used against you. Again, rely on your legal representative to handle these matters.
Posting About the Accident on Social Media
It might be tempting to share all of the evidence you’ve collected on social media in outrage. Refrain from doing so. Social media can be a public platform – what you post there is in a grey area but legally closer to a radio broadcast than a private conversation with friends. You never know what might be used against you – so stay stoic.
Whatever happens, if you have not sustained injuries that require immediate hospitalization, and can document the accident, always remember to do so in your own legal interest. Never do a hit-and-run, because you will likely be found, and it will go on your record. Even if you were not entirely at fault, the balance will not be in your favor on court day. Furthermore, don’t forget to call for help and to call for the authorities to assist in any medical and legal matters.