Why Keeping Mum About Your Car Accident Is So Important To Your Case

26 August 2020
 Categories: , Blog


It can be a great relief to unburden yourself — especially after a traumatic event like a car accident. Who you speak to and what you say, however, matter a great deal to any legal claims you make against the other driver. If you have been hit by a careless driver and are injured, read the below tips about the importance of keeping silent after an accident.

Your First Interview

In most cases, the accident is being investigated from the time first responders appear at the scene. Law enforcement officers are trained to perform an initial investigation into how the accident occurred and they do this by speaking to drivers, passengers, and eye-witnesses. You may be in no condition to give the officer a statement about the accident and that is perfectly understandable. Be very careful what you do say at the scene, however. It's better to wait until the initial trauma of the wreck has diminished before you give a statement. Also, be aware that medical personnel may be subpoenaed to give statements about what they observed and heard at the scene.

The Recorded Phone Call

You might be called a few days after the accident by the other driver's insurance agency. The insurance adjuster will be asking you to give them a summary of how the accident happened. It's important for accident victims to understand that the other side has to reduce or eliminate their financial responsibility for the accident. They stay in business by keeping claim payments to a minimum and that is the real purpose of the call. Keep in mind that you are not required to take part in this phone call and you should not do so under any circumstances. Let a personal injury lawyer handle not only that call but the call to your own insurer as well. You could seriously damage your case if you innocently provide inaccurate information.

Venting On Social Media

The final opportunity for ruining your personal injury case might come at the hands of popular social media sites. Accident victims can get some much-needed support after a traumatic accident but they can also make it more difficult to be paid what they deserve. It's all too easy to post that you are sorry about the wreck, that you might have been partially at fault, or about what you are planning to do with the compensation you get. If you claim to be injured, you should never post photos of yourself after an accident. Stay off social media and stick to your family and friends for in-person support.

Talk to a personal injury attorney before you speak to anyone about the accident and count on them to help you through the accident claim.


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