Common Mistakes People Make Following an Ontario Car Accident

You’ve been in a car accident, and you’re worried about how you’ll get back on your feet with injuries and damage to your car. When you’re in this type of situation, the most important step you can take is to get help. Call 911 first. Don’t leave the scene of the accident. Talk to the police and be sure to document the incident completely. Gather all information from the other party. Then, what?

Now it’s time to call your car accident attorney at Diamond & Diamond Lawyers. Instead of trying to navigate the claims process on your own, turn to our attorney to ensure you get all the compensation owed to you. Here’s the simple fact – it’s easy to make mistakes while filing these claims, especially when the insurance company wants you to settle fast. Let us help you avoid the complications. In the meantime, don’t make these common mistakes after an accident.

Failing to Report the Accident

In every situation, the biggest mistake you can make is not reporting the accident to the police or to the insurance company. Perhaps the other party is at fault, but they want to pay out of pocket for the damage instead of filing a claim. They don’t want you to call the police. The problem is, you can’t trust they are going to pay for all of your losses. You may not know the extensiveness of your injuries just yet. Or, in some cases, you may find out your car has a bent frame, which increases the costs.

By reporting the accident to the proper locations, you document what happened. You also do not have to worry about someone else claiming you are responsible for the losses they have. Instead of leaving the location, get off the roadway, call the police to file a claim, and then file a claim with your insurer once the police clear you from leaving the scene.

Understand Your Legal Rights

You have legal rights in an accident. For example, you have the right to state what you did or did not do. You also have the right to not say anything at all if you are being questioned by the police. If you think you may be responsible for the incident or you feel as though the police are accusing you of it, ask to speak to your attorney. Just that fast, the questions stop, and you can get help answering any others asked of you after.

You also have rights to information. After the incident, you have the right to a copy of the police report. If you do not agree with the report, you can file an appeal. It’s always best to work with your Ontario car accident attorney to ensure you file this process. If at any time you do not believe the information is accurate, don’t fight with the police about it. Get an attorney to do it for you instead.

Causing Legal Trouble: Admitting Fault

Admitting fault is a very easy mistake to make, but you absolutely do not want to do so. Here’s an example. You are in an accident with another car. You were turning, and they hit you. You don’t want to say, “I was in the middle of the intersection, but the light turned red.” That indicates that you know you should not have been in that position. Instead, you may say, “I was waiting in the intersection to be able to turn.” You’re still communicating what you were doing, but you take a lot of the pressure off of you. All drivers are responsible for controlling their vehicle. If you hit someone, you may be responsible. That does not mean you should tell the police it was your fault.

“Are you looking for an Ontario car accident lawyer that can help you avoid these mistakes? Find out how you can get compensation for everything owed to you!”

Don’t Fail to Collect the Evidence

Collecting evidence is not just what you see on TV. There are plenty of pieces of insight that can make a big difference in your case. For example, you shouldn’t leave the site of the location of the accident or move your car. You can (and should) start taking pictures on your phone at that moment. That helps to capture what is happening, where, and when. This is evidence to back up your claim.

There are many other forms of insight, as well. There could be cameras in the area from businesses that may have captured what happened. There could be witnesses to the incident that can vouch for you. You also want to gather insight from passengers, all drivers, and the vehicles themselves, such as any failures of the brakes.

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INFOGRAPHIC CONTENT:

When should you call a personal injury lawyer after a car accident?

  • You’ve suffered damage to your car.
  • You have injuries or medical bills.
  • Your insurance company isn’t settling for what you need to cover your bills.
  • The other driver is claiming you’re at fault.
  • You are not sure if you should settle your claim.

Don’t wait – call your Ontario car accident attorney immediately!

 

Fail to Seek Medical Care

You were hit in a vehicle. A heave, 2,000 pound vehicle has struck your own. In that moment, your body lurched forward and back, your brain collided with your skull, and your spinal column retched. As all of this happens, adrenaline, a hormone designed to give you the ability, in a moment’s notice, to run, is helping to mask all the aches and pains you have. After such an incident, you need to seek medical attention.

Getting into an emergency room right away is very important. It gives you insight into any medical needs you have at that moment. You should also get additional help in the next few days when you start to feel pain. Ensure all of this is documented to protect your rights.

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Pro Tip:

Our Ontario car accident attorney can help you get the most out of any insurance claim. Don’t settle without legal support.

Frequently Asked Questions

#1: I was in a simple Ontario car accident. Can’t I just settle my case with the insurance company?

While you can do so, it’s virtually never a good idea to do so. Insurance companies want you to settle fast, often long before you know what all of your medical bills, time lost at work, and pain and suffering will cost you. That’s why you need a personal injury lawyer to help you get all the compensation owed to you.

#2: I was in an Ontario car accident, and the other party is refusing to pay for all of my damage. What should I do?

When you call and speak to your personal injury lawyer, we can help you determine what your legal options are. You may be able to file a claim for your losses, appeal current claims awards, or even go to court. The goal here is to ensure you know what’s owed to you and that you have documentation to support your claims. We can help you to do that and much more.