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First, don’t try to tell yourself you are OK. You may feel fine and still be injured. Many times medical testing with X-Rays, CT’s or other tests can reveal unknown injuries. Some may be serious, like back injuries or internal bleeding. The internal injuries may have occurred in your accident and may be unknown directly after the accident; due to the likelihood most people have some level of shock after an accident. Auto accidents and the associated injuries are known to be complex.
Second, try to avoid making comments as the shock of an auto accident can be very unsettling. People can say things that are inaccurate or emotional and may be inaccurate at the time. Examples are in attempting to be responsible by claiming it is either your fault or the fault of others that are involved. Perhaps you blurt out that you probably shouldn’t have been going so fast or perhaps that you were late to an appointment or in a hurry for some reason. These statements may be true, but there are always other factors involved. Some may only become known upon further investigation. If at all possible, try to be reflective and composed. It may be hard, but your initial comments may be prompted by shock and emotion and not based in facts. One needs to refrain and avoid talking unnecessarily after an accident.
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And the third thing is to avoid blaming the other people involved in the accident for causing it. It may be possible you are partially at fault, maybe not though. Others may be more at fault, but leave the communication with the involved parties to the auto accident lawyer handling your case. Any competent attorney knows how to handle these types of communications, appropriately and professionally. By doing so, you will be represented and protected from needless mistakes and unnecessary additional problems later. The accident is enough disruption to your life without aggravating yourself and others further, especially at a stressful time. Remember, stay calm if possible.
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Of course, the most important thing is do is not to leave the scene of your accident until you have been cleared to do so by a law enforcement official. If you are injured you will need to trust police and medical personal attending to the accident.
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To sum it all up, first do not tell anyone you are OK, when you don’t know if you are injured or not. So, do not put off getting examined by medical professionals if you feel you may have been injured in the accident, get examined. You have a right to emergency medical treatment in an auto accident situation, regardless. Second, avoid talking beyond brief comments to police and paramedics, as you may be in shock after the accident. Third, do not blame yourself or others at the scene, accidents happen, so try to remain as composed as possible. Also, remember do not remove anything from the accident scene until police or investigators give you permission to do so. Keep in mind not give any recorded statements until consulting an attorney. You have the right to consult an attorney.
