9 Common Mistakes to Avoid After a Car, Truck, or Motorcycle Accident

Whether you were in a car, truck, or motorcycle crash in Mississippi, you’re likely a little stressed out. The moments following these accidents can be terrifying, traumatic, and overwhelming.

This makes it very challenging to remember everything you should do to make sure that your rights remain protected and that you receive the maximum amount of compensation possible. Therefore, in order to help you, our Mississippi injury lawyers created a list of nine common mistakes to avoid after a car, truck, or motorcycle accident. We hope that seeing these things written down will help you in the immediate aftermath of a collision.

1.     Do not forget to report your accident to law enforcement

It is extremely important that you call 9-1-1 as soon as a motor vehicle accident happens. However, some people may think that the damage is minor and would rather skip the chaos of dealing with the legal process and insurance companies. This may seem like a good idea at the time, but you may come to find out that your vehicle’s damage is a lot worse than you originally thought. As a result, you are now stuck paying hefty mechanic bills that are not your fault. That said, do not forget to report your accident to law enforcement as soon as it happens. If you did not do this, contact your local police department and ask if you can file a late motor vehicle collision report.

2.     Do not decline or fail to seek medical treatment after the accident

After you have been involved in an accident, you are asked if you need to be transported to a nearby hospital. If you say no, you are expected to get medical treatment at an emergency room, urgent care, or primary doctor’s office. This is crucial as you need to be checked for traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, cuts and lacerations, internal bleeding, organ damage, and more. However, if you fail to do this, insurance companies will use this against you by saying that your injuries were not severe enough to seek medical treatment. Additionally, your medical records can be used as evidence in a motor vehicle accident case.

3.     Never imply that the accident was your fault

While you want to cooperate with insurance companies and law enforcement, it is critical that you never admit or state that the accident was your fault. Insurance companies and police officers are looking to blame someone. Therefore, you should be very careful when speaking to them.

4.     Inform your insurance company about the accident as soon as possible

You should contact your insurance company and inform them about the accident immediately after the accident occurs. However, if this is not possible, you should make sure that they are notified within the first day or two. Try to keep this phone call short and sweet without giving too much detail, admitting fault, or downplaying what happened.

5.     Request a copy of the Mississippi accident report from your local police station

When police officers arrive at the scene of your accident, they will begin writing a police report to file with the police station. It is important that you ask for a copy of the accident report. You may be able to ask the responding officer or contact your local police station for one. This report provides details of the accident that may be beneficial for your case.

6.     Keep all information about your accident in a safe area or space

Even though you may be going through a tough time and not feel like keeping up with important information and documents, it is crucial that you have a safe space, folder, or area for everything related to your motor vehicle accident. The last thing you want to do is lose an important record, photo, or document that can be used as evidence.

7.     Do not take any quick payments from insurance companies

Insurance companies will most likely offer you a quick payment, hoping that you will take it and settle the case. However, they do not want you to know that this payment is usually much less than you are actually owed and can get for your injuries and other losses. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you talk to a legal professional about the amount of money you should receive for your accident before accepting any payment from insurance companies.

8.     Do not vent or post anything about your accident on social media platforms

While you may be tempted to log into your social media accounts and post photos, vent, or talk about your traffic accident, it is extremely important that you refrain from doing this. Your social media posts can be used against you in court, which could alter the outcome of your case.

9.     Do not put off speaking with and hiring a Mississippi personal injury lawyer

If you have been injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, you should speak with and hire a Mississippi personal injury attorney right away. They are experienced, educated, and knowledgeable when it comes to motor vehicle accidents, and they can provide you with the best legal advice possible on what to do going forward. In addition, personal injury lawyers will guide you through the legal process and fight for the fair compensation that you deserve.

If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident in Mississippi, please do not hesitate to reach out to the personal injury lawyers at Merkel & Cocke at your earliest convenience. Our attorneys will handle all the hurdles and challenges that come our way, while you focus on healing and recovering from your injuries. Call our office or submit our contact form today to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation at one of our office locations in Jackson, Clarksdale, Greenville, and Oxford.