What Not to Do if You are in a Road Traffic Collision

What Not to Do if You are in a Road Traffic Collision

TGR Staff | Photo by Rico Loeb - 08/12/2022


On average, there are over 6 million car accidents every year. That is a lot. It makes sense to assume that one day you will be in an accident if you haven't already been in one. If you are in an accident, you will go through a bit of trauma. Even a minor accident can cause trauma, both mental and physical. Many people underestimate the power of a minor crash, but it can affect you. When you first have the accident, you will feel shaken, and you will be confused too. Once it happens, you know you are in for a time-consuming affair, even if not much appears to be broken. To ensure that you get through this ordeal in the best possible way, you need to be in control of your thoughts and actions. Due to the emotional impact of such an event, it will definitely help if you read up on what to do at the scene of an accident so you do not make any big mistake that can bite you down the line. To help you, we have compiled the list below to help if you are ever in this involved in an auto accident.



 Do Not Admit Any Liability:


Even if you believe the accident was your fault, it is not wise to amidst liability or apologize in any way. At the end of the day, you are only aware of your part of the accident; you don't know who is at fault or if any circumstances need investigation. It is the job of insurance companies to figure out who is liable. The other driver may be angry and may well start blaming you or using other forms of manipulation to try and get you to admit liability and apologize. Do not fall for it. It is essential that you never apologize, ad this is something that can and will be used against you later down the line. 



Don't Say You Are Uninjured:


The fact of the matter is you do not know if you are injured in the immediate aftermath of a crash. Some injuries take a while to show up, sometimes up to a few weeks. So never say you are uninjured as this may be untrue; you may well have adrenaline coursing through you, which can mask pain too. If a couple of weeks after the crash, you suddenly get some random back or shoulder pain, it is very likely that the crash caused it. There may even be the possibility that you have internal bleeding, and this could be quite serious. 



Don't Accept Anything:


Whatever you do, do not get into a conversation about what happened, and never accept that other driver's word for what happened. You are far better off simply saying that you don't know. Another thing to remember is that you mustn't accept an offer for damages that comes through too fast. One of the main rescind for this is that you may well be injured and not know it yet. You need to bide your time and just say nothing.



Avoid Naming Other People:


When it comes to dealing with insurance companies, you need to stick to the very basics. Don't tell them the names of other people that may affect your case. No family doctor's name, no friends, relatives, or anyone else that you may think is relevant to this case. They are not. It is not a good idea to tell the other driver anything personal. You are far better off saying as little as possible. Anything you say can be used against you. Even if you are struggling, remember less is more. Keep your mouth shut rather than spill the beans. If you name other people, there is a chance that you will be forced to provide information or evidence in relation to these people.



Do Not Offer An Official Statement:


Your official statement will be used n court if it goes that far. It will be used to sue you and even arrest you. So you better make sure the statement you give is the one you want them to have. So, give the statement after the fact, once you have recovered from the shock, etc. Do not give an official statement at the scene ever. Why not seek advice from a legal team, such as truck accident lawyer Miller & Associates before you give a statement. You need to have your wits about you before you offer up anything.