Car accidents usually happen rapidly without much warning. They leave the involved parties surprised and caught off guard. Eventually, this makes them weak to saying things they wouldn’t usually say or saying things that may unintentionally hurt their personal injury claim down the road. Being responsive of what to say or what not to say after a car accident can help you and your car accident lawyers obtain the compensation that you deserve for the injuries you sustained.
Here are few things not to say after your car accident.
Many drivers tend to apologize simply because they feel bad that the accident occurred and empathize with the condition. Even if they were not the one causing the crash, their natural response is to say they are sorry. Unfortunately, if you chase legal action as a result of your accident, saying you are sorry can hurt your claim as it indicates that you are at fault.
This is a common phrase after accidents occur when one driver is turning in or out of an area just before the crash. If you say this, it could cause the other party and their legal team to interrogate why you didn’t see them and if that led to the accident. Most insurance companies request a recorded statement from you in expectation that you will say you didn’t see something.
The wounds you sustain in a car accident will determine the value of your car insurance settlement. The problem is, many auto accident damages do not show up immediately after the accident, such as whiplash or traumatic brain injuries. Minimizing or denying your injuries after an accident can decrease the value of your right.
Even if you are not sure you are going to work with a attorney, it’s better to tell the person asking that you are considering your lawful options.
After hitting a car accident, the auto insurance company for the other party often tries to contact you as soon as possible with the purpose of getting you to accept a low settlement offer before you speak to a lawyer. Do not tell them you accept any offer without first meeting with your car accident attorneys or you could be leaving money that is legally yours on the table.
Not only should you not say sorry, but you should also not openly admit fault of any kind. You could be misleadingly making an admission and not even know it. Moreover, admissions of this sort could lead to a traffic ticket which will harmfully impact your case even more.