I Was Hurt in a Car Crash I Caused. What Happens Now?

Thousands of car accidents occur each day in the United States, some of which cause drivers and their passengers to sustain injuries. Many of the victims in these accidents suffer severe injuries at the hands of another driver, but what happens when the injured person is the one who caused the car accident?

First things first: never admit fault to the other driver or police

Have you ever accidentally bumped into someone and said “Sorry,” without thinking? Have you ever done it even when the other person bumped into you?

That spontaneous reaction is a courtesy when you’re jostling around on a busy street, but it can be a liability when you’re in a wreck. When you get into a car accident, you should never admit fault, even if you know that you did something wrong to cause the accident. There is always that possibility that the driver of the other vehicle was doing something wrong as well, such as speeding, going through a stop sign, or making a U-turn on an intersection where U-turns are forbidden.

If you get into an accident and the other driver is accusing you of causing the accident, do not apologize to that driver, and do not admit that you did something wrong. You can remain in your vehicle until the police get there to write out a police report on the accident. You do not need to discuss the details of the accident with the other driver. If you do end up apologizing or admitting that you were in the wrong, your words may be used against you in the future when you are trying to recover damages for your injuries.

Seek medical attention right away

If you’re hurt, get to a doctor and start documenting your injuries. Remember that you don’t have to give the hospital your car insurance, even if the administrators ask for it or insist you have to give it to them. You do not. After all, if you had been a passenger in the car, they wouldn’t ask for your insurance, would they?

If you have health insurance, give them your insurance card, so they can bill the right entity. It is not a guarantee that your premiums won’t increase – your insurance company will learn about the accident, even if you use your health insurance – but it could prevent you from being overcharged for your care.

Let an attorney put the evidence together

Even if you caused an accident, you still need to hire a lawyer and explain the situation. You should let your lawyer know what you did wrong to cause the accident. Being honest is the best thing you can do when you are consulting with the attorney. Remember that even if you were at fault, you may be able to collect some compensation if the other party was equally, or more, to blame.

It might also turn out that the reason for the car crash was something beyond your control, like a defective car part or a problem with the road you were on at the time. In cases like these, you could have a claim against the manufacturer of your vehicle or the government entity which is in charge of the roads.

If you sustained injuries during a car crash you caused, let an attorney review your case and provide the best legal advice to you. At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, our Memphis car accident lawyers are ready to help you move forward. To schedule a free consultation at our office in Memphis or Jackson, please call 901-680-9777 or fill out our contact form.