10 Mistakes to Avoid After an Oklahoma Car Accident

Each year, millions of people in the United States are injured in car accidents. The most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports roughly 2.4 million people injured and 42,000 killed in 2022 alone.

Unfortunately, when you’ve been in an accident that wasn’t your fault, the challenges don’t end when you walk away from the scene. You’re likely facing medical bills. You may even be unable to work for some period of time. Even if your only concern is vehicle repairs, you’re going to have to work with the insurance company to get the compensation you need to be able to get back out on the road.

Insurance companies are aware that those involved in car accidents are often vulnerable and unsure of how to proceed or interact with them after an accident. When a person is stressed out, injured, and dealing with the fallout from an accident, they are more likely to make errors that can cost them their chance at a fair settlement.

Avoid these common mistakes after a car accident so that you don’t unintentionally hurt your claim.

1. Admitting Fault

In high-stress situations like the scene of a car accident or a conversation with an insurance adjuster, it is tempting to jump out and apologize. When you admit fault, even as an apology, it can severely undermine your case if you later need to show that, actually, the other driver was mostly or even fully responsible.

Even if you think you might be partially responsible, or you could have avoided the crash, remember that you also probably don’t know all the facts either. Ultimately, it’s the job of the insurance company and your attorney to conduct a thorough investigation, weigh the facts, and determine who was truly responsible. Don’t give the insurer an easy excuse to reject a claim without doing the work.

2. Not Getting a Police Report

If you’ve been in a car crash, call the police and report the accident. They should come out and take statements from you and the other driver.

This official record is treated as an objective account of the accident and carries a lot of weight with insurance companies and, if it comes to it, a personal injury lawsuit.

It’s also the law. In Oklahoma, you are required to immediately report any accident that either causes an injury or does at least $300 in property damage.

RELATED: Checklist: What to Do After a Car Accident in Oklahoma City

3. Forgetting to Gather Evidence at the Accident Scene

You may think the police report is all the evidence you need. The truth is that you may need all the evidence you can get your hands on when the car insurance company contests your claim.

Take photos and videos of the vehicles involved, any tire marks on the pavement, and the surrounding scene. Get contact information for any eyewitnesses, and be on the lookout for CCTV or traffic camera footage that could have captured the auto accident.

Exchange information with the other party, including driver’s license information and insurance information.

4. Not Going to the Doctor

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you should seek medical attention promptly if you feel any symptoms—even if you think it’s just minor bumps and bruises. The truth is that some car accident injuries can take hours or days to appear, while in other cases aches and pains you expect to be temporary don’t improve with rest.

An experienced doctor can identify any serious hidden injuries and help you get the treatment you need right away. You will also begin to accumulate medical records to support any personal injury claim you make. This can be crucial—if you wait to see a doctor, it makes it easier for the insurance company to argue that your injuries aren’t really that bad, or were caused by something else.

RELATED: I Didn’t Go to the Doctor After My Car Accident. Do I Still Have a Case?

5. Signing a Medical Authorization Form

Insurance adjusters may encourage you to sign a medical authorization form giving them full access to your complete medical records and history. Although this seems like it might save time, signing this form could end up diminishing your chances of receiving compensation for your injuries and any property damage.

If you have suffered injuries in the past, they may attempt to use your medical history to argue that your injuries were not entirely caused by the accident but occurred prior to the wreck.

6. Giving a Recorded Statement Without Speaking to a Car Accident Attorney

Most accident victims believe giving a recorded statement about the collision to an insurance adjuster is required. The truth is that you should never agree to give a recorded statement—at least not without the explicit advice and instruction of your attorney.

The risk is that insurance adjusters could use your recorded statement against you. For example, they may ask strategic questions that allow them to later deny your claim based on your responses. While you may think you have nothing to hide and that giving a statement shows good faith on your part, the reality is that recorded statements almost never help crash victims—and frequently hurt them.

RELATED: How to Deal With an Insurance Adjuster After a Car Accident in Oklahoma

7. Posting on Social Media

This is one of the most common mistakes people should avoid after a car accident. Even a simple post with a photo of your car that says, “I’m alright,” or unrelated photos of your activities after a crash, can negatively impact your ability to recover damages.

When it comes to social media, avoid posting anything about your car accident until the case is settled. You should also strongly consider taking a complete break from social media, setting your accounts to private, and not posting anything while your case is ongoing.

8. Omitting Information

If you were doing something wrong at the time of the accident, you may be tempted to try to hide that. Or, if you have a pre-existing condition that you received medical treatment for, you may be concerned it will affect your settlement, and try to keep it a secret.

If you get caught in a lie, or omitting important information, it can have severe legal consequences. Not only can it affect your settlement, in some cases it may be considered insurance fraud. And once you lose your credibility, it’s almost impossible to get it back in the eyes of an insurance company (or a jury).

This does not mean that you should guess, speculate, or offer additional information beyond what the insurance company asks you! But it does mean that you should never lie or try to intentionally mislead.

Furthermore, you should always be 100% honest with your attorney when discussing your case. Many crash cases have “inconvenient facts” that insurance companies will try to take out of context, but if you are upfront about them with your attorney, they will be in a better position to defend you.

RELATED: How Do Pre-Existing Conditions Affect Car Accident Settlements?

9. Accepting The Initial Settlement Offer

This is one of the most common mistakes people make after car accidents.

The insurance company knows that when you’ve been injured in an accident, you likely want to settle your case quickly in order to have your medical expenses and other costs covered. This can lead to them making their initial offer lower than what you deserve in hopes that you’ll feel pressured to accept.

The insurance company may even suggest that their initial offer is the best offer you will be able to receive. This is not always the truth, though. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses, so their main goal is to pay out as little compensation as possible to injured parties.

RELATED: How Much to Expect from a Car Accident Settlement in Oklahoma

10. Failing to Hire an Attorney

Insurance adjusters may also encourage you not to hire a personal injury lawyer. This is because they know an attorney will fight for what’s fair. Hiring an attorney to review your claim will give you the best chances of receiving a fair amount based on the extent of your injuries, property damage, and other related costs.

Car accidents can be complicated insurance claims, and an experienced car accident attorney can investigate the auto accident, collect evidence, uncover the facts of who was at fault, and negotiate aggressively with the insurance company on your behalf.

If you’ve made one of the common mistakes listed above, like admitting fault, the right attorney can help you undo some of that damage with the car insurance company and recover fair compensation for your accident.

The Wolf Pack™ at Colbert Cooper Hill Is Here For You

If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident due to the negligent actions of the other driver, an experienced attorney like those on our team at Colbert Cooper Hill can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. We understand that following a car accident, common mistakes can prevent you from recovering a fair settlement. Our team will advise you on the legal process, and help you avoid any missteps.

Schedule your free consultation today: contact the Wolf Pack™ at Colbert Cooper Hill by giving us a call or filling out our online form. We’ll help hold the other driver responsible for their negligent actions, and prioritize your financial wellbeing following an accident.

References

Traffic Safety Facts Annual Report Tables (September 2024). United States Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Retrieved from https://cdan.dot.gov/tsftables/tsfar.htm