Following a car accident, tensions are high and level-headed thinking might not be possible. When you are at the scene of the car accident, you might not know what choice words should be said and what shouldn’t be said to the other driver. You might not be thinking ahead but instead in the moment, which means that you might say things that could be misunderstood and used against you later on in the midst of your claim.
How Your Words Could be Misunderstood
One of the most powerful pieces of evidence collected at the scene is the statements that are made by drivers at the scene. These are pieces of evidence that could easily be misconstrued and relayed to the attorneys and insurance adjusters involved in the case and could be admissible in court if they hold any sort of weight, as determined by the other party’s attorney. But what are the statements that you want to avoid?
The statements you want to avoid are those that cause you to accidentally admit fault even if you don’t mean to. For instance, following an accident, it is not unheard of for a party to admit fault just by apologizing. You might have struck somebody because they drove through a red light. The first thing that comes to mind is, “I’m so sorry” when you see how badly they’re injured. Just the apology itself can be enough to use against you in court.
So, instead of admitting fault, you should never use words in an apologetic manner at the scene of the accident. One of the most important things that you should instead do is to check on those who have been injured and ensure that they receive the care they need at this time. By acting quickly and avoiding these types of phrases, you can preserve your claim and work toward the results you deserve in your case.
Things You Should Do
You might be overcome with emotions after an accident, but there are some steps that you should always take to ensure that your rights are protected and that everybody involved is safe. In doing so, you could avoid adverse results that you were not looking for. Here are some of the steps that should always be taken after an accident:
- Make sure that everybody involved in the accident is safe. This means trying to move all vehicles from the roadways and ensuring that medical attention is given by calling an ambulance if it is needed.
- Ensure that the police are called to the scene of the accident. This can help protect the rights of everyone involved. Even if there are no injuries, police can still play a huge role in your claim and help you work toward results you deserve.
- Take down as much documentation as possible so that you can report back to your attorney about all of the important details in your case and preserve your rights at this time.
- Exchange all information without pinning the blame on yourself or the other party.
Of course, every motor vehicle accident is different and these are just simple guidelines that can help you at this time. We want you to protect your rights from the moment your accident occurs so that you can get started on working toward the results you deserve in your case. This means preserving critical pieces of evidence and protecting your rights from the large insurance companies that might try to work against you. At Katz Kantor Stonestreet & Buckner, we want to help in your time of need. Call us for more information at (304) 713-2014.
Note: Secondary sources were used to create this piece and, because of this, the information included has not been independently verified. If you notice a factual issue with our posting, please bring it to our attention and we will correct or remove it as soon as possible.
Disclaimer: Our intent in these posts it to bring attention to the dangers members in our community face and to encourage caution. Accidents do happen and we hope these posts help those affected. However, this information should not be misconstrued as legal or medical advice, and we urge you to contact a trained legal professional for more information regarding your specific situation.