According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are about 5.5 million car accidents in the United States each year. Additionally, the most common cause of lawsuits in America is traffic matters, and many of these are personal injury lawsuits. Getting compensation after an accident is very much affected by what you do directly following an accident, but there are a few common mistakes that people make. Here are three of the worst things you can do after a car accident.

1. Leave
One of the worst things you can do after a traffic accident is leave the scene. In many cases, it’s illegal to leave the scene of an accident, but it’s also important to take time and collect information. You’ll need to exchange contact and insurance information with the other parties involved in the accident as well as document details surrounding the accident. Take pictures of the scene and collect information from any witnesses that are present.

2. Refuse Medical Attention
Another mistake you might make in the time following a traffic accident is refusing medical treatment. Accident injuries may be hard to notice because of stress right after an accident and you may not feel them until days later. It’s important to get checked out, not only for your own well-being but to get documentation of any injuries for a future personal injury claim.

3. Admit Fault
After an accident, it might be tempting to apologize or say that the accident was your fault, but don’t. This is one of the worst things you can do. Never say that you’re sorry or that the accident was your fault, since this can have an affect on the attribution of liability later on. Only talk to the police about the details of the accident to file a police report and give your insurance the details as well. Avoid talking to the other parties involved in the accident except to exchange information.

Do you have any tips for what to do or what not to do right after a traffic accident? Feel free to share them with us in the comments section below. Learn more at this link.