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Less Is More After A Car Accident
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, what you say after the collision can have a significant impact on your ability to file a claim with insurance and even a civil claim later on. Here’s what you should never say following a car crash.
“It was my fault” or “I’m so sorry”
Never admit fault at the scene of the accident, even if you do believe you may have caused or contributed to it. Also, avoid saying “I’m sorry.” This can be misconstrued as admitting fault, even if you are simply expressing how you feel about the situation in general.
“I was on my phone”
Texting and driving is illegal and admitting to it at the scene of the accident makes it an open-and-shut case. Police may pull your phone records — even if you don’t say anything — to determine if you were on the phone at the time of the accident. It’s best to stay quiet and decline to answer questions without your attorney present.
“My brakes have been acting funny”
If you’ve been having vehicle problems and haven’t gotten them fixed yet, this is something you definitely want to avoid mentioning. This could be seen as negligence on your part if it is determined that the issue you’ve been having and haven’t fixed is the exact issue that caused the accident to occur.
“I was distracted”
Distracted driving isn’t limited to cell phone use. A myriad of other things can also cause distraction, such as yelling passengers, eating, applying makeup, or even using the vehicle’s radio or climate controls. Don’t mention being distracted at the time the accident occurred.
“I have to go to work, but I will call you”
You and the other driver need to exchange identifying information. Never provide just your information or only get the information of the other driver. If you do not provide your identifying information, you could be charged with a hit and run, even if you had a reason to leave the situation and your intentions were good.
Contact The Bourlon Law Firm Today
If you’ve been in a car accident, don’t say anything at the scene other than providing your identifying information and your insurance contact numbers. Reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney to determine if you may have a case against the other driver. Contact The Bourlon Law Firm today for a consultation at (361) 289-6040.