No one wishes to be involved in a car accident but the fact remains that if you drive a car there is a good chance you will have one at some point. Damages to your vehicle are costly and inconvenient to repair and any injuries you may receive can lead to medical expenses, significant amounts of lost income or permanent disability. For these reasons it is important to plan ahead and be prepared for the possibility of an automobile accident by educating yourself in what steps to take and what to avoid after an auto accident.

3 Things You Should Never Do After a Motor Vehicle Accident
In the chaos and confusion following a car or truck collision it is easy to accidentally slip and damage your case for any related insurance claims or legal actions filed as a result. The following are three things you must never do after a motor vehicle accident.

1. Do not give a recorded statement. Responding officers, insurance company representatives and others involved in the accident may request a recorded statement about the incident. It is very easy for these statements to be manipulated to into a confession of fault or guilt. Politely decline and quickly call your lawyer for advisement instead.

2. Do not make guesses. When giving your identification information, insurance details or outlining the particulars of the accident do not give a guess about information you do not know or cannot remember. Practice politely saying, “I cannot comment about that at this time without verification,” or other words to that effect so you are ready in the heat of the moment to stand your ground.

3. Never volunteer information. When responding to the questions and the police officers at the scene only answer direct questions and as a succinctly as possible. It may be hard to imagine that these casual and thoughtless details can be used against you but these words are the precious building blocks used to create claims against your right to compensation from insurance companies and may also establish your culpability in the eyes of the law. When in doubt, be as brief as possible and wait for the next question instead of elaborating.

4 Things you must do after an Auto Accident
In order to protect yourself further, there are 4 more things to do after a car crash.

1. Documents and photograph the accident scene using a cell phone or regular camera. These are necessary to help establish the sequence of events and the extent of damages for future insurance or legal claims.

2. Exchange information with those involved in the accident and with witnesses to the accident. This information is invaluable for protecting you and building your successful case.

3. File an accident report whether or not police officers respond to the scene. This helps speed up insurance claims.

4. Contact an auto accident attorney immediately for advisement and assistance. An experienced lawyer on your side can turn a hopeless situation into a success.