Every year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 10 million auto accidents in the United States. Luckily, most people walk away with only minor scrapes. Two million others suffer injuries serious enough to warrant a visit to the emergency room, at the very least.
Unfortunately, it’s not just injury that drivers have to fear when getting into an accident. If you cause property damage or physical injury in an accident, you can be pulled into court for a car accident compensation claim. Here are three simple tips that can help you avoid being made responsible for car accident settlements.
Be Smart. Don’t Do These Things After a Car Accident
- DON’T Talk to the Other Driver More Than You Need To
- DON’T Flee the Scene of the Accident
- DON’T Try and Cut a Deal
As FindLaw.com suggests, one of the worst things you can do after a car accident is get too chatty with the other driver. Sure, you need to exchange insurance information and other important info, but that’s as far as it goes. The last thing you need is to say something that auto accident lawyers can use to place the blame on you.
We’ve all been there. You get into a stressful situation and your flight or fight reflex chooses the former. As any auto injury attorneys can tell you, however, you need to fight this urge in the event of an accident. As HowStuffWorks details, fleeing the scene of the crime can land you with a felony charge, depending on where you live. Why make things worse?
If you want to come out on top and not have to deal with car accident settlements, it can be tempting to offer cash to another party after an accident in exchange for their silence. The problem? You have no guarantees that they will honor that arrangement, nor do you have anything other than your word to prove you made that contract. Better safe than sorry here.
Do you make your living as an auto injury attorney? What advice would you give drivers looking to stay out of court for car accident settlements? Share some of your thoughts in the comment section below. References.