The Perks of Remaining Calm at the Scene of an Accident
Emotions are heightened and adrenaline is flowing after an accident. Additionally, reactions often escalate when the victim of someone else’s negligence realizes that he or she has been injured and/or that there is significant property damage. For that reason, it is not surprising that people often get excited at the scene of an accident and say or do something without thinking. In some circumstances, post-accident mutterings and actions will have no bearing on anything. But unfortunately, in some other circumstances what a person says or does at the scene of an accident can have a wide-reaching effect, especially later on when trying to pursue a personal injury claim. Therefore, there are significant perks to remaining calm at the scene of an accident.
Below are some of the reasons you should remain calm at the scene of an accident.
- You can observe more about the scene. From being able to identify witnesses to remember exactly where vehicles were located when the accident occurred, staying calm can help you see things as they are without your emotions clouding your ability to observe.
- You are more likely to remember how to proceed. After an accident, there are actions that you should always undertake such as immediately contacting law enforcement officials and if you can do so safely, taking photos of the scene of the accident and recording the scene with your smartphone video camera. However, you are much more likely to remember to take these steps if you remain calm.
- You can help avoid exacerbating your injuries. Even if you think you haven’t been injured or think you have injuries that are minor, you should always seek medical treatment as soon as possible after an accident. After all, there were almost 30 million emergency department visits for unintentional injuries like those resulting from car accidents in just one year. Remaining calm at the scene of the accident can help prevent you from exerting yourself in a way that worsens injuries you may not even know you have yet.
- You are less likely to say something that will damage your claim later. While there is some legal protection for statements expressing sympathy, even something as simple as apologizing at the scene of an accident can have an impact on a personal injury claim later on as words you may think sound innocent may be interpreted as you admitting fault for the collision. By remaining calm, you are more likely to avoid saying something that you will later regret.
Keep Calm and Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney.
When you are ready, you should understand that you have every right to learn more about your legal rights. After obtaining the medical you need, you should reach out to the experienced South Florida car accident attorneys at Leifer & Ramirez who offer the legal help that you need to help you ensure that you obtain the compensation that you deserve. We offer a compassionate legal team who will advocate for you and ensure that you obtain the maximum compensation that you are entitled to help ease some of the burden of medical bills, lost wages and other expenses. Begin by contacting us today.
