Don't Say You're Sorry After A Car Accident
It might be a habit to say you're sorry even if you didn't actually do anything wrong. But there are some situations where saying you're sorry can backfire, and in no situation is this more true than after a car accident. After saying you're sorry, your statement can be used as evidence of an admission of guilt. Instead, remain tight-lipped and call an auto accident attorney.
The Problem with Saying You're Sorry
After you have been involved in a car accident, you have no reason to say that you're sorry. An accident was not intentional and is not your fault. At the very least, the accident was unavoidable and neither party is at fault. However, the insurance company that you will have to deal with may also interpret an apology as an admission of guilt.
Even if you do believe that you're at fault for the accident, there's no reason to admit this. You may later be able to reveal that the other party was actually more at fault for the accident than you are. Instead, you will want to focus only on the well-being of the other party. To avoid admitting fault, you will instead want all your communication to be handled through an auto accident lawyer.
Don't Comment on Whether You're Injured
If you state that you're okay, this may be used against you later on when you discover that you were actually injured. Some injuries, such as whiplash, are not as obvious. Even internal organ injuries may not immediately show symptoms until days later. You should only talk about your injuries if you are in danger and need help. For example, if you feel like you're struggling to maintain your consciousness, you may want to bring this up with the other driver.
Try to Avoid Talking
Discussing the accident can backfire. If you speculate on what you believe happened during the accident, you may find it more difficult to tell a different story after you have had time to speak with experts and your auto accident attorney. In the heat of the moment, it can be difficult to remember properly what actually happened.
If you are careful with what you say, you'll make your attorney's job much easier. However, you'll still want to speak with any witnesses to exchange contact information, ask the witnesses what they saw and to determine if they would be willing to serve as witnesses.