5 Mistakes to Avoid After a Car Accident in Colorado
Car crashes are a nightmare. They always happen at the worst possible time, they’re hectic, they’re stressful and there’s a lot that happens all at once. It’s maybe the most disorienting and chaotic scene that a person can find themselves in.
Because of this, there are a lot of people who end up making some mistakes at the scene of a car crash that end up costing them money if they end up pursuing a personal injury case down the road. We don’t blame people for making these mistakes – there isn’t a lot of good information out there, and thankfully, most people aren’t in car crashes that often.
But these mistakes can end up costing someone both their health and their potential settlement payout. Because of this, we’ve put together a list of the top 5 mistakes you should avoid after your car accident in Colorado.
If you can avoid these mistakes, you’ll put yourself in a much better position to get the settlement that you deserve!
Mistake #1: Not Calling the Police
We won’t mince words here – if you were involved in a car crash and you were not the one at fault, the biggest mistake that you can make for your case is not calling the police.
If you want to get the money that you deserve for your damage and injuries, then having a police report is an absolute essential. This report will provide the insurance company with an official statement of what happened – which all but eliminates any of the “he said, she said” stuff that often comes up after a crash.
How serious are we about this part of the process? We believe that you should call 911 even for minor accidents.
If you’re in a situation where you’re in a minor crash and you feel like there weren’t any injuries sustained, it’s still worth having the police come to file a report. You don’t want to be in a situation where something comes up down the line (either an injury or a malfunction with your vehicle) and you don’t have the proper proof to get the insurance company to do their job.
Mistake #2: Admitting Fault (Even by Accident!)
Chronic people pleasers – this rule is for you. If you are someone who likes to relieve the tension in awkward situations by taking the blame (even if you know you weren’t at fault), you should know that in a car accident, that is a big mistake.
A lot of times, people will relieve the tension in a car crash by saying something like:
- “I’m sorry”
- “Don’t worry about it, I didn’t see you either”
- “No worries, it was probably my fault too”
If you do this, you may be costing yourself thousands of dollars later down the line. Liability in these situations is complex, and insurance companies are going to investigate anything they possibly can find to get out of being held responsible.
Even a passing comment or apology can count as an admission of guilt in their eyes, and trust us, they’ll take it and run with it.
If you’re someone who tends to relieve the tension, just keep your mouth shut and wait for the police to arrive.
Mistake #3: Delaying Medical Treatment
If you were involved in a car crash that was serious enough to cause an injury, it’s crucial that you go and see a doctor as soon as you can – even if you feel fine in the moment.
Car crashes are intense – often, you’ll have a lot of adrenaline pumping through you at the scene of the crash. That adrenaline will cause you to feel numb to any pain that you may be feeling and could leave you feeling like you walked away from the crash unscathed.
But injuries like whiplash or concussions may not appear immediately. It could be days before you start to feel any real symptoms, and the longer that you put off getting checked up by a health professional, the more damage you could be doing to your long-term health.
A delay in medical treatment can also have massive implications on your personal injury claim. Remember: insurance companies are trying to get out of paying you, and they’ll take anything as an excuse to wipe their hands clean.
If you don’t go seek medical treatment right away, they’re going to claim that as you not really being as injured as you say you are. Their angle will be that someone who was truly injured would stop at nothing to go and get treatment done, and that you are possibly playing up your injuries to receive a settlement.
It’s shady, but it’s something that we see all the time.
Mistake #4: Talking to the Insurance Company Without a Lawyer
When in doubt, talk to an attorney.
This isn’t most people’s instinct, but if you’re in a situation where there is a potential claim involved, your best bet is to not say anything to the insurance company before talking to a lawyer first.
From the second they are contacted about the crash; the insurance company is going to begin a mission to try and minimize how much they have to pay you out – regardless of what it takes.
Their first strategy is going to be to talk to you and try and get you to admit guilt in some way, shape or form. They’ll ask you confusing questions that are meant to make you de-value your claim in some way. Again, these are professionals – they’re not here to help you.
They’re also going to offer you a settlement as soon as they can. This settlement may look good to the untrained eye, but it’s probably only a fraction of what they owe you. If they can get you to accept this initial settlement, you immediately disqualify yourself from ever getting compensated more for this incident again.
It’s in your best interest to have an attorney review any settlement offers before accepting and to have them present for any conversation with the insurance company.
Mistake #5: Not Hiring a Lawyer Soon Enough
As car accident lawyers, one of the most common objections we get during our initial free obligations is something along the lines of:
“I’ll think about it and shop around for a bit before making a decision.”
It may seem like we’re being pushy to sign you as a client, but it’s for good reason. The longer you wait to hire a lawyer and get the process started, the worse your settlement is going to be.
An attorney can help you protect your rights, gather evidence and negotiate a fair settlement. When you wait too long to start this process, it can hurt your case and cost you money.
The sooner we can begin acting on what we need to do, the better off you’ll be. We can get evidence while it’s still relatively fresh, you can start your treatment and start the process of healing, and we can be put in the best position possible to win your case.
Call Us for a Free Consultation Today
Car accidents are scary, confusing, and overwhelming. There’s a lot going on, and the aftermath can be frustrating and scary for people – especially those who already have a lot going on in their lives as it is.
If you were recently injured in a car accident in Colorado, our team is here to help you get your life back to normal. We can handle all of the paperwork; we can get you back in your vehicle and we can take care of talking to the insurance company – all while you just focus on healing.
Plus, we can get you paid the money that you deserve.
If you were injured in a crash, contact our team of Lakewood personal injury lawyers today for a free, no obligation consultation to see if you have a case!