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Vehicle accident victims in Mesa, Arizona, have a lot to deal with in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Car crashes can be terrifying and stressful events, but it is crucial for those involved to follow certain steps in order to ensure that they receive the compensation they are entitled to. Here, we want to discuss the seven mistakes that people are most likely to make in the aftermath of a vehicle accident in Mesa.
One of the biggest mistakes a person can make after a vehicle accident occurs is leaving the scene of the crash. In almost all scenarios, leaving the same will be considered hit-and-run, which is illegal in Arizona. Even if the other driver says that the incident is not that big of a deal, do not leave the scene. If the other driver leaves, so be it. You need to call the police and stay there to document the incident.
It is crucial for all car accident victims to seek prompt medical care. Not only does this ensure the crash victim’s well-being, but it also establishes a direct link between the crash and the incident. This will be important for insurance carriers to see. In many cases, the signs and symptoms of crash injuries will not appear until hours or even days after the incident occurs. A crash will cause the adrenaline in a person’s body to mask certain injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding.
Under no circumstances should any person admit fault following a crash, even if they are sure they caused the incident. The reality is that a crash victim may not know all of the circumstances surrounding the incident. Even saying something as simple as “I’m sorry” could be construed as admitting fault. It is important to let police officers and insurance carriers do their jobs and determine fault for the situation. In many cases, more than one party could have caused the incident, and these situations will be handled by Arizona’s pure comparative negligence system.
Crash actions should never post anything on social media about the incident. Please understand that insurance carriers and at-fault parties will be on the lookout for these posts. Even if you think your Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or blog is private, a family member or friend could share your post and expose it to the public. All too often, people post information about who caused the crash or the severity of their injuries, only to find out that the insurance carriers are watching their every move.
It is important for crash victims to continue all medical care until their doctor says they have reached maximum medical improvement. If a crash victim discontinues care before this point, insurance carriers could try to deny the claim by saying that the victim is not as they said they were.
If it is safe to do so at the scene of a crash, those involved should use their phones or another type of camera to take photographs of everything that they see. This can include damage to vehicles, injuries, traffic and weather conditions, skid marks, debris on the roadway, and more.
It is important to get the names and contact information of any eyewitnesses at the scene of a crash. As soon as these individuals leave the scene, it will be nearly impossible to get ahold of witnesses if you do not get their information ahead of time. Eyewitnesses can provide valuable information to insurance carriers or to a personal injury jury about what actually caused the crash.