Traveling through West Virginia by motor vehicle can be a pleasurable experience. If you enjoy beautiful mountain scenery, then you no doubt love driving past the Blue Ridge Mountains or other sections of the Appalachian Trail. Driving or riding as a passenger in a car can also be stressful, especially if there’s a lot of traffic, or there’s a reckless driver in your midst.
Just as it’s important to know what to do if you’re involved in a motor vehicle collision, it’s equally important to know what not to do after an accident. In fact, if you do something you shouldn’t be doing in the near aftermath of a crash, it might not only delay your recovery, it could spark legal problems, as well.
No matter how you feel, seek medical attention
One of the most common mistakes people make after a collision is failing to obtain medical attention. It’s important to remember that not all injuries are immediately apparent. You might not see any blood on your body or clothing, and you might be able to stand up and walk and speak, so you assume you’re okay and choose to go home instead of to the hospital.
It’s always best to go to the emergency room and receive a thorough medical examination after a car accident. Paramedics will inform the attending physician that you have been involved in a crash. This lets him or her know what type of tests to run and examinations to perform to rule out internal organ damage, brain trauma and other injuries.
Obtaining medical attention as soon as possible after a collision also initiates written documentation of the incident, which can come in handy later on.
Don’t accept a quick settlement offer from an insurance agency
Suffering injuries in a collision is an emotionally traumatic experience. It can take weeks, even months, to fully recover. It’s understandable that you’d want to put the past behind you and move on in life as soon as you can. Insurance companies know this, and many try to take advantage of it.
It’s best to consult with someone who is well-versed on state laws regarding motor vehicle collisions before you consider settling your claim.
Never disregard a physician’s release instructions
If you’re released from a hospital after a crash, it’s imperative that you follow the physician’s post-accident care instructions. Failing to do so can make your condition worse. If the insurance agency discovers this information, it might claim that you have made your injuries worse by disregarding medical instructions and should, therefore, receive a reduced amount of compensation.
Your support team will play a vital role in your recovery
Recovering from a West Virginia automobile collision takes time, emotionally, physically and economically. During recovery, you might have to take time off work, which can cause additional financial strain.
Many recovering accident victims have successfully alleviated financial burdens associated with their injuries by seeking restitution through the civil justice system.
