Cars, trucks, vans, buses — you name it: vehicles make life infinitely easier. Of course, anytime you’re around fast-moving, heavy hunks of metal, you stand a chance of getting injured, if not worse. Indiana State Police show that fatal car accidents in the Hoosier State keep rising, inflating from 752 in 2019 to 813 in 2020 despite Indianans driving 13% fewer miles.
Understanding the idea of making mistakes after a wreck
Many people injured in motor vehicle accidents can recover monetary damages for their losses. Victims, also known as plaintiffs, can recover these compensatory damages whenever their losses occur as a direct result of another party’s unlawful conduct or negligence. Plaintiffs must prove that monetary losses actually occurred and attribute those losses to the defendant. You can do this in cvil court though you’ll likely need a personal injury attorney’s help.
Unfortunately, recovering monetary awards from civil lawsuits or out-of-court settlements takes time. Plaintiffs can make numerous mistakes during this months-to-years-long period, either reducing or completely eliminating the money they’re due to recover.
Although you can’t always prevent car accidents, you’re in total control of what you do after an accident.
Don’t make these mistakes
After the wreck, don’t apologize, make excuses or otherwise admit fault. Even though the following statements may seem innocent, at-fault parties will use them against you to avoid paying damages:
- “I only looked away for a second.”
- “I didn’t even see you coming.”
- “I slowed down, but apparently not enough.”
Don’t tough it out or avoid seeing a doctor. Although you may need to attend work or fulfill other obligations, choosing to put off a doctor’s visit until you finish working that day can allow defendants to argue that your injuries don’t warrant monetary damages.
Lastly, don’t agree to a quick settlement. If the other party agrees to pay cash in return for not involving police, insurance companies or courts of law, don’t expect to take your case to court. Insurance companies often use this strategy to prevent plaintiffs from filing lawsuits. If you wait it out, you may receive a much larger payout.
People involved in motor vehicle accidents experience stress, uncertainty and many other negative emotions that can lead to post-accident mistakes. Knowing what to do after accidents improves your chances of receiving compensatory damages in court.