Be Careful What You Say After An Accident
If you are in an auto accident, what you say right after it can
affect the amount of compensation you receive. This is because
anything you say at the accident scene or elsewhere can be used
against you later and could lower the value of your claim. To
help make sure you don't say anything that could hurt your case,
right after an auto accident: • Don't say the accident
caused you no injuries.
Immediately after an accident, many people try to brush it off, saying
things like "It's okay, I'm not hurt." It's important to
remember that many injuries don't show up until later, so until you
have been fully examined by a doctor, don't claim you suffered no
injuries from the accident. If you say at the accident scene
that you weren't hurt, this statement can be used by an insurance
company or the other side to justify denying your claim or lowering the amount of
compensation you receive. • Don't take any blame for the accident.
After an accident, many people say something along the lines of "I'm
sorry, it was my
fault." Until you have all the facts, it is not wise to
admit fault for the accident. Many accidents are caused by
things the driver did not see or know about -- things that put blame
for the accident elsewhere. The best course to protect your
rights after a car accident is to not take any blame for it until
you have consulted your lawyer and a full investigation has been
made. • Don't discuss specifics of the accident. Things like how
fast each party was going, who had the right of way and other
circumstances of the accident are issues best left for the lawyers and
experts to resolve later. After an auto accident, it's best to
just exchange key information with the other driver (name, address,
phone number, driver's license number, insurance company, policy number
and information about the car) and then leave
the scene without going into the details of the accident. After an auto
accident, panic and confusion can cause you to not think clearly.
Because of this, and because you don't have all the facts of the
accident immediately after it, do not discuss fault or your injuries
at the accident scene or anywhere else before first consulting your
lawyer. Watching what you say after an auto accident can help
you receive the maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.
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