Being in a car accident can leave you feeling scared and overwhelmed. An overall feeling of uncertainty can lead you to make mistakes that could not only affect your ability to pursue compensation, but that could also affect your health. Work with an experienced car accident lawyer to avoid some of these common car accident mistakes.
If you can avoid these common errors after a car accident, you’ll be able to protect your legal rights.
Why Mistakes Matter After a Nevada Car Accident
What you do or don’t do after a crash can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation. Insurance companies and opposing parties will be looking for ways to limit their liability, and even seemingly minor missteps can be used against you. From not calling the police to admitting fault too soon, these mistakes could cost you thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost income, or reduced settlement value. That’s why it’s essential to know what to avoid and get a car accident lawyer involved early.
Never Leave the Scene of the Accident Without Reporting It
When you leave the scene of an accident, you are committing an illegal act that could lead to additional charges. Additionally, you could lose out on valuable information that you need, including the contact and insurance information of the other driver. If you do not require immediate medical care, you could help your case by beginning to collect evidence. Use your phone to capture photos or videos from the scene of the accident. Gather the contact information of any witnesses.
Don’t Skip Calling the Police After a Crash
You might feel like calling the police to report a car accident is not necessary, especially if it is a minor fender bender. However, filing a police report is important to document your case. This is necessary in building your case, should you need to seek compensation for your injuries. Police also do a lot of the required investigative work, including taking images of the accident or talking with witnesses. Also, police will look closely at the details of the accident and they may issue a traffic violation to the other driver. If they do, this could be valuable to your case.
Even if you receive the ticket, this does not necessarily mean that you are responsible for the accident. Depending on the details of the accident, you may be able to fight the ticket.
Never Admit Fault or Apologize at the Scene
Things are not always as they seem at the scene of an accident. Always avoid admitting fault because it can be used against you later. While it might seem appropriate at the time, never apologize, or admit to a wrongdoing to the other driver, or the responding police. Even if you believe that you are to blame, it is best to not say anything. Let a car accident lawyer do the talking for you.
This also means being careful about what you say to the insurance company. What you communicate to the insurance company can affect whether or not they will cover your car accident costs. Insurance companies will often minimize your damages in an attempt to reduce how much they have to cover. It is important to be truthful, without accepting blame for the accident. In fact, it can be helpful to leave negotiations to your legal representation.
Never Skip Medical Care After a Car Accident
You might feel fine, but that does not mean that you are. The adrenaline from a sudden impact can mask your injuries. When you put off medical care, you could risk your life. Additionally, if you go home and then begin to experience pains, it will be difficult to connect your injury to the car accident.
Medical records and documents are crucial when building a personal injury case. Make sure you keep track of all doctor reports, bills, diagnostics, and imaging.
Don’t Try to Pursue Compensation Alone
Even if liability seems clear, you shouldn’t try to handle your case without a skilled car accident lawyer in Las Vegas. The other party may shift blame onto you, which can lower the amount of compensation you receive under Nevada’s comparative negligence laws.
A qualified attorney can handle:
- Evidence collection
- Insurance negotiations
- Legal filings and deadlines
- Valuing your full damages (medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering)
Without representation, you risk settling for less than your case is worth. A lawyer will push back on lowball offers and fight for the maximum settlement you deserve.
Work With a Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer to Avoid Costly Mistakes
You can avoid some of the most common missteps following a car accident by working with a lawyer who is familiar with Nevada laws. We fight for the legal rights of our clients, ensuring that they receive fair compensation to help them recover from their injuries.
At Oronoz & Ericsson, LLC, we fight for accident victims in Las Vegas and across Nevada. We’ll guide you through every step of the claims process and help you recover the compensation you need to heal.
Call our Vegas personal injury lawyers today at (702) 878-2889 or fill out our contact form to schedule your free consultation with a trusted car accident lawyer in Las Vegas.