Common Mistakes People Make After Getting Into A New Haven Auto Accident

When you get into a New Haven auto accident you can be stunned and stressed out so you may make some mistakes in how you handle the period of time after the accident. This is natural and something that happens to many people who are in this situation. However, if you can, with a clear head, think about how you would handle a car accident before it happens you will be better prepared in the event that you do get into an accident to handle it well.

The important thing to remember is that when you are in an accident you need to stay calm. While this can be challenging in certain situations, staying calm will allow you to maintain your composure and not make the mistakes that could lead to you losing out on proper compensation or proper recovery from the accident. If you keep calm and try to make all the right moves when an accident happens you will be much more likely to recover from the accident and experience success with the insurance company when trying to get compensated for the accident.

Accidents happen in all different ways and some can be quite serious. However, there are some common threads that are strung throughout all accidents which can lead to choices you have to make. If you make the wrong choice you could put yourself in a bad situation, but if you make the right choice you should be doing great on the road to leaving the accident behind. If you avoid the mistakes listed below you will be doing right by yourself, your passengers and the others who are involved in the accident.

Mistake #1: Not calling the police. You will always want an official record of the incident and that is what a police report will provide. Even in small accidents you will want to have an impartial law enforcement officer visit the scene and write a report. You may use this report in your insurance claims filing and if there are any legal proceedings that follow the accident.

Mistake #2: Leaving the scene of the accident. There are a large number of reasons why this is a mistake, not the least of which is that it is illegal to do in Connecticut. Connecticut law requires that every person that is involved in the accident stays at the scene until the police arrive. If you do not do this you could be in even more hot water with the authorities.

Mistake #3: Admitting fault. This is an important one that a lot of people get wrong. Your reaction immediately after the accident may be to tell the other drivers involved that you are sorry, but this can be read as an admission of guilt. Instead, you will want to make sure everyone is ok and not hurt and then move on to gathering information for insurance purposes. Do not admit you are at fault because if it turns out you were not your admission can still be used against you.

Mistake #4: Not seeking medical attention. You might feel fine after an accident, but if you don’t seek medical attention it will be very hard to get attention after the fact. Even in the most minor of accidents you should be seen by a medical professional so any injuries you may have (even ones that are not evident right away) can be documented and included in the record of the accident.

When you’re driving throughout the Elm City and through no fault of your own you get into a New Haven auto accident, beware not to make the above mistakes. If you take the right steps and do the right things after the fact of the accident you will be able to leave the accident with all the information you need to make sure you and your passengers are cared for in the long run. If you make any of the mistakes above you may be jeopardizing your chances to seek compensation for your injuries or your personal property damage.

Once you’ve made it through the initial aftermath of an accident you may need to seek the assistance of an attorney. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.