After you have been involved in an auto collision, you are likely to be in shock. This is entirely understandable. No one expects to get hit by another vehicle when they leave home, school, or work. Unfortunately, while in this confused state, people make mistakes that could hurt their case later on when they try to file a legal claim. So, if you find yourself in such a situation, here are a few mistakes that you will want to avoid when you try to make a claim for monetary damages.

Admitting Fault for the Crash

As a general rule, people do not admit that they caused a collision. However, it is best to avoid any kind of comments that could be potentially misconstrued and work against you in the future. For instance, if you apologize to the other motorist or say that you didn't see them, these types of comments could be construed as an admission of fault. Simply stick to gathering evidence and information while at the scene and avoid making any kind of accident-related comments.

Failing to Contact the Authorities

Regardless of whether you believe the crash is minor, it is important that you contact the authorities. The police will conduct an investigation and write up a report that can be used later if you decide to pursue legal action. Generally, you will need a police report when you speak to the insurance company about the accident.

Delaying Healthcare Treatment

If you decide to pursue monetary resources after the accident, this will be difficult if you failed to seek immediate medical attention following the crash. If you have suffered serious enough injuries that require you to go to the hospital in an ambulance, make sure to follow up with your general physician afterward. Something people may not realize is that many injuries will not surface until several days, even weeks, after the crash. Therefore, it is important that you have proof that you were examined and treated by a healthcare provider immediately following the accident.

Failing to Gather Information from the Scene

For a lot of evidence, your only chance to get it is at the scene of the accident. If you or someone you know is physically able to, take some pictures and videos of the crash scene before it can get cleaned up. You will also want to get contact information for anyone who may have seen what happened.

Accepting the Initial Settlement Offer

If you are certain the other motorist caused the accident, you may be able to receive a relatively quicker offer from their insurer. Generally, though, this offer may not be comparable to what you could be entitled to. You can usually get a higher offer by hiring a lawyer who can calculate all of your damages.

For more information, contact a car accident lawyer.