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| Photo courtesy of Volvo |
Fortunately for most drivers, car accidents are an
occasional thing. Most people don’t want to think about getting into an
accident because they can be scary, but by not thinking about such a situation
they put themselves at risk. You need to know what to avoid doing immediately
after an accident on the road, because what you do in the moments after your
car is wrecked can follow you for some time afterward. The following items are
all things people commonly do, even though some are dangerous or even illegal.
Never, ever, start yelling at or making aggressive moves
towards the other driver. It’s understandable that your emotions might be
running high after being in a wreck, especially if it was a bad one. Even if
it’s blatantly obvious that the other driver was at fault, you cannot take the
law into your own hands. Remember that you could be charged with assault if you
do lose your cool and lay hands on the other driver, so if you’re upset it’s
probably best to keep to yourself.
Even if you feel bad about what happened to the other party
in the wreck, never admit that you were at fault. Saying that you’re sorry
counts and it can be used against you in a dispute between insurance companies,
or if the case goes to court. You can ask if the other party is okay and help
them if they are injured, but keep the apologies to yourself.
Leave the scene of the wreck
Taking off after an accident is a very bad idea, even if you
don’t have insurance. The moment you flee the scene of an accident, you have
broken the law, even if the accident was the other driver’s fault. Going back
to the accident after leaving still means you have violated the law and are
subject to criminal charges. You must stop your car, check on the people in the
other vehicle, and exchange insurance information with them.
Forget to call the police
You must contact the local police and follow their
instructions about the wreck. Even if you swap insurance information with the
other driver, you have no idea if that information is even accurate or current.
There are some people who carry around falsified insurance information when
they aren’t even insured. The police can help sort things out so you’re not
left holding the bill for the wreck. Not only that, most insurance companies
will not pay out on an accident that was not reported to the police because of
the potential for fraud. Even if the police don’t come to the scene of the
accident, you still need to call them before you leave.
Neglect to document the scene
You might think the police or your insurance company will
document the scene of the accident, but they might not even show up. Just about
everyone carries a smart phone with them these days, so pull it out and start
taking as many pictures as you can. Document where the two cars are, any damage
on them, the license plate of the other car, and anything else pertaining to
the wreck.
What Not to do After a Car Accident
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