If you’re involved in a car crash, you might find yourself in a very tense situation. All over the nation, people sometimes get out of hand after a car wreck in very serious ways. A minor car accident in Santa Fe, NM, for example, recently sent two people to the hospital: one with knife wounds to the face and one with gunshot wounds. This doesn’t have to happen. Here are some common mistakes after a car crash that you can avoid making.
Rage
It’s natural to be angry after a car crash. In fact, it’s perfectly natural for people to react to fear with rage. This is just adrenaline. Be ready for this and don’t let it influence your judgment. When you get slammed into by a drunk driver, it can be very tempting to take the matter—or the driver themselves—into your own hands. Don’t do this. You’re only creating the possibility that you’ll be hit with criminal charges and inviting injury of death, depending upon the other driver.
Admitting Fault
Never say that the accident was your fault. In fact, don’t discuss the accident with the other driver. The police will have questions for you and you’ll have to answer them to the best of your ability. If you don’t remember what happened, just say so. It’s common for people in car wrecks to not remember exactly what happened leading up to the accident. Don’t say anything that implies that you caused the accident.
Medical Care
If you’re not qualified to render medical care, be aware that you could do more harm than good to someone who is injured. Provided that you can keep the victim safe from oncoming traffic, it’s best to never move someone who has been in a car wreck and who has been injured. They may have spinal or neck injuries and moving them could make those injuries worse.
Contact a Lawyer
If you find yourself being hassled by the other driver, an insurance company or simply need to pursue compensation because the other driver involved in your car accident was negligent, contact an attorney. Once you do have an attorney, remember never to talk to anyone except for them about your claim. They’ll make sure you don’t make any other mistakes along the way that might ruin your chances of winning your claim. Attorneys can be enormously helpful in guiding you as to how to deal with a car wreck situation.
