This year, Illinois residents have already experienced Arctic blasts from the north and there is a whole lot of wintry weather between us and Spring 2020.
As winter closes in and the weather worsens, car accidents become even more likely. If you have the misfortune to suffer injuries in a collision caused by another motorist, make sure that you make none of the four mistakes described below.
1. Not calling police
The driver at fault in the crash may attempt to minimize the seriousness of the incident and urge you not to call police. This is problematic, however.
Not all injuries or property damages are immediately evident. Both you and your vehicle may have suffered damages that only manifest long after the other driver has left the scene of the unreported accident. You will then struggle mightily to recover any financial losses and hold the liable driver accountable.
2. Saying you are sorry
Midwestern residents can be polite to a fault. Such is certainly the case if you wind up in an accident and get out and start apologizing. Even though you might mean that you are simply sorry that the wreck occurred and are not accepting blame, your words can later be twisted and turned against you.
Refrain from offering any apologies at the scene or later during any conversations with insurance adjusters. Remain silent or keep the conversation focused on the well-being of those involved in the wreck.
3. Not seeking medical treatment
As stated above, you may begin experiencing symptoms from your injuries hours or even days after the auto accident. Whiplash and some soft tissue injuries can emerge weeks after an accident. Delaying medical treatment makes it far more challenging to link them to the collision.
4. Minimizing or ignoring your injuries
That bruise or bump on your head could be a sign of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Your sore ankly might be a bad sprain that takes months to heal.
Also, if you were involved in a serious collision, you could suffer post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The symptoms of PTSD vary, but in severe cases can be crippling and life-altering.
If someone else’s negligence and/or careless actions caused you to suffer from physical or mental injuries, you deserve to be compensated for these damages and losses. Failing to take the appropriate actions after an accident can make financial recovery more difficult than it needs to be.