MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota. Being in a car accident can be stressful, not to mention painful, if you’ve suffered a personal injury as a result of a crash. Individuals who have been in a car crash may need to go through rehabilitative care, may have to miss time at work, and may have to speak to insurance adjusters to collect a recovery for their damages. If you’ve suffered a serious injury, you may also want to speak to a personal injury lawyer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Law Office of Martin T. Montilino is a personal injury attorney who can offer guidance on how to collect damages following your accident. While there are things you should do following an accident, like making a police report and contacting a car accident lawyer, there are some things you should never do if you’ve been in a car crash. Here are 4 things to consider:
- Don’t fail to call 911. If the accident was minor or if you believe no one was hurt, you may be tempted to not call the police. After all, who wants to change their plans by waiting for the cops to arrive? The reality is that if you fail to make a police report, you could face difficulty with insurance claims without an accident report. Some injuries also may take days to weeks before they become apparent. Post traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injury symptoms can appear long after the accident takes place. Without a police report of the crash, you may have difficulty collecting damages for your injuries later.
- Don’t accept blame. The minutes after an accident are confusing, stressful, and possibly traumatic. Whatever you do, don’t admit blame for the accident. Even a car accident where you believe you may have made a mistake, may not in fact be your fault. It can be hard to know what the other driver was doing behind the wheel. He or she may have been drunk, on the cell phone, or driving without a license. Wait for the police to arrive and answer questions truthfully, but don’t blame yourself.
- Don’t forget to get insurance information from the other driver. According to S. News & World Report, you’ll need the contact information of the other driver’s insurance so that you can report the accident and collect any damages you may be entitled to receive.
- Don’t delay in contacting a personal injury attorney. If you’ve been seriously injured, or if you are having difficulty getting the money you believe you deserve from insurers, or if the other driver is making a claim against you, you should speak to a personal injury lawyer in Minneapolis, Minnesota as soon as possible. You may only have a limited amount of time to seek damages. Moreover, a lawyer can help you work with insurance adjusters to make sure you receive a fair settlement. If you have questions about your accident or are considering hiring a lawyer, visit https://martinmontilino.com.