You probably have a general idea of what to do after a car accident in Michigan. While it is important to know what steps to take after a car accident, it is also important to know what not to do.
Even minor mistakes can harm your chance of recovering compensation from a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence. Here are some of the top mistakes you do not want to make after being involved in a car accident.
Not calling the police
People have various reasons for not wanting to call the police after an accident. They may believe that the accident is not serious enough to warrant bothering the police, they might have a general distrust of police officers or they could be hiding from police for other reasons.
However, police officers will observe the scene, take photographs, talk to witnesses and create a report. They are essentially doing the initial evidence gathering for you. Always call the police after a car accident.
Apologizing or admitting guilt
When you do speak to police officers or anyone else, do not apologize or admit guilt. Apologies are often seen as admission of guilt.
This is one of the most common mistakes because it is often hard to avoid. It is natural to want to make everyone involved feel better and diffuse the situation by apologizing.
Stay quiet and do not say anything that could appear to be taking responsibility for the accident. This includes statements on social media.
Not seeing a doctor
If you believe you are uninjured or only have minor injuries, you might be tempted to skip seeing a doctor after the accident. But seeing a doctor can provide you with additional evidence necessary to prove a claim of negligence by showing proof of your losses.
A doctor’s report provides additional documentation of your damages. Additionally, many car accident injuries do not appear until sometime after the accident. Just because you do not see or feel any injuries immediately does not necessarily mean you are uninjured.
Taking the insurance company’s word
Remember that an insurance company’s goal is maximizing their profit. They have an incentive to pay out as little as possible. Do not take the insurance company’s word that the amount they are willing to pay you is fair.
It is best to get a professional opinion on any offer from an insurance company to make sure you are getting a fair deal. If not, you can learn why you should continue to fight for additional compensation.
Waiting too long to file a personal injury claim
Finally, do not wait too long to file a personal injury claim after a car accident. The statute of limitations in Michigan for filing a claim is three years. If you do not file a claim in time, you typically lose your chance of recovering compensation forever.
File your claim even if you are still recovering from your injuries. You will have time during the claim process to build your case for negligence and thoroughly assess your total losses.
