What Not To Do After A Car Accident

#AskDarrylSinger

It’s summer, and millions of people will take to the roads to enjoy the many vacation spots throughout Ontario. Cars, motor homes and other vehicles carrying vacationers to their destinations only add to the likelihood that you could be involved in a car accident. There are millions of articles on the internet explaining what you should do following a car accident, but it is equally important to know what not to do. The following tips about what not to say and do following an accident could protect at the crash site while protecting your rights to make a claim for personal injuries against another motorist that caused the collision.

Don’t leave the scene of an accident

A violent collision of two vehicles can leave drivers and passengers shaken and confused even when there might not appear to be any visible physical injuries. You might not be thinking clearly, but resist the temptation to drive away from the scene.

Failing to remain at the scene of an Ontario traffic collision is a violation of the Highway Traffic Act that could subject you to a fine ranging from $400 to as much as $2,000. You could also be sentenced to imprisonment for up to six months and suspension of your driver’s licence for up to two years.

If involved in a collision with another vehicle, you should do the following:

  • Remain calm.
  • Put your car in park, turn off the ignition and turn on the hazard lights.
  • Check to ensure that neither you nor anyone in your vehicle has been injured.
  • Exit your car only if it is safe to do so and will not place you at risk of being hit by other vehicles.
  • Call the police or ask someone to call them for you.

Exchange contact, license and vehicle information with the drivers of other vehicles involved in the collision and get the names and addresses of any witnesses.

Don’t discuss the accident with anyone other than police or emergency medical personnel

Traffic collisions occur so quickly and without warning that it is rare for a driver or an occupant the vehicles to accurately describe how the accident occurred. It usually requires a thorough investigation, including interviewing eyewitnesses and reviewing police reports, before a determination can be made about the cause of a crash.

Do not admit fault or blame without first speaking with a lawyer. Things you say at the scene of a collision could be used against you later to challenge your claim for damages against a party who was responsible for causing the crash. This includes making statements about how you feel. It is not uncommon for symptoms of serious physical injuries to not become apparent for hours or days after the accident. You could suffer a debilitating concussion and not realize it until hours after an accident, so refrain from talking to anyone other than police or emergency medical personnel about your injuries or how you feel.

Don’t delay seeking medical treatment or a medical evaluation

If you are injured in a car accident, let the emergency medical personnel responding to the scene treat your injuries and take you to the emergency department of a local hospital for additional evaluation. Even if you do not feel that you have been injured, it is a good idea in cases of severe collisions to be evaluated by a physician immediately after the accident to confirm that you did not suffer an injury with delayed symptoms.

Ontario personal injury lawyers

If a doctor confirms that you have been injured in a car accident, contact the Toronto personal injury lawyers at Diamond and Diamond. They have years of experience successfully handling claims for compensation on behalf of injured car accident victims throughout Ontario. They welcome questions about your case and the procedure for obtaining compensation. Call the Diamond and Diamond 24/7 injury hotline at 1-800-567-HURT or visit their website to speak to someone now. They have offices located throughout Ontario offering free consultations and case evaluations to injury victims and their families.