Why Talking Too Much After An Auto Accident Might Sabotage Your Case
If you are involved in an auto accident, you should be careful about what you say to the other driver. Talking too much or saying the wrong thing can end up sabotaging your auto accident case. Below are some of the ways in which your words can hurt your case.
You Might Make a Mistake
Getting involved in an auto accident is devastating, shocking, and confusing. Many people are not in their right minds in the period immediately after an accident. The risk of making a mistake is very high under such circumstances. The mistake can come back to haunt you during liability and damage determination.
Take an example where a driver crashes into your car because they are intoxicated. The driver can lie to you and get away with it by coming up with a sob story (such as claiming that they were rushing to a loved one in a hospital). You might forgive the driver and let them go because you don't have the full picture.
You Might Admit Liability
Liability admission at the scene of an accident is dangerous. Auto insurance companies warn their clients against admitting liability — even if a driver feels liable for a crash.
Liability admission hurts your chances of getting compensation when you eventually file a third-party claim. An admission of liability can also strengthen the other driver's claim, should they decide to file one.
You Might Be Having Hidden Injuries
Talking too much at the accident scene can also downplay the extent of your injuries and damages. Don't forget that injuries are not always evident in auto accident scenes. For example, concussion injuries do not always show up immediately. Even some car damages might not be apparent at the scene of the crash. If you downplay your injuries or damages, you will have a hard time convincing the defendant or court that the injuries damages are real and accurate.
The Other Driver Might Misunderstand You
Lastly, there is also a risk that the other driver might misunderstand your words. What if the driver has a hearing impairment or has limited comprehension of English? You might think that you are explaining yourself while the driver is making up their own understanding of your explanation.
The much you should do is to exchange information on your identities, contacts, and insurance information. Leave the rest to the experts, such as the police, insurance company, and your auto accident lawyer.
To learn more on how to pursue your auto accident case, contact a firm like Wolfe Jones Wolfe Hancock Daniel & South LLC.