No one ever expects to get into a car accident. As a result, you may experience a great deal of shock and fear in the moments following a collision. But, it’s important to take a few minutes to calm down so you can remain in control of the situation. The things you say after a car accident could affect your ability to recover compensation for your injuries or property damage. Here’s what you shouldn’t say after a car accident if you want to avoid this situation:
“I’m sorry.”
Apologizing to the other people involved in the accident can be interpreted as a way of saying that you are fault for the crash. Even if you just meant “I’m sorry that this happened to all of us,” instead of “I’m sorry that I caused this,” your words can very easily be taken out of context. It’s important to avoid apologizing to anyone at the scene so you don’t get blamed for the crash.
“I’m fine.”
Drivers may end up standing around for a little while as they wait for a police officer to arrive on the scene. It’s normal to make small talk during this time, but you should avoid saying anything about your injuries. If you think you haven’t suffered any injuries or the injuries you have sustained are minor, keep this information to yourself for now. Symptoms of certain injuries may not appear for hours or even days after the accident. If you tell the other driver that you are not injured, but then realize later that you are, this will make it much more difficult to recover compensation.
“We don’t have to call the police.”
The other driver may say that there’s no need to call the police because the accident was minor, but you should never agree to this. A police officer needs to respond to the scene of every accident so he can create a police report. This report will explain exactly what happened and identify the at-fault party, and it plays a big role in your personal injury claim. The other driver may change his story after you leave the scene and try to claim you were at fault. If you don’t have a police report, it will be difficult for you to prove that you are telling the truth.
If you have been injured in a car accident, contact a personal injury attorney who can guide you through the process of filing a claim. Our attorneys will stand beside you every step of the way and ensure that you don’t say anything that could impact the outcome of your case. Contact Reisch Law Firm today by calling 303-291-0555 or filling out this online form to schedule a consultation.
