More than six million car accidents occur annually in the United States. Unfortunately, this leads to thousands of fatalities and even more injuries throughout the year.
While accident scenes can be confusing and chaotic, you need to stay calm and avoid saying the wrong thing if you are in this situation. If you admit fault in any way, it can be used against you to deny your claim for benefits.
Unfortunately, you may say something you don’t even realize is an admission of fault. Learning more about this and what you should avoid saying will help you protect your rights to file a claim to recover compensation down the road.
What You Should Never Say After a Car Accident
After you are involved in a car accident, it may feel natural to apologize to the other driver. Even though being polite may seem like the right thing to do, it can cause issues after an accident.
The most obvious apology is “I’m sorry.” You may not realize that several others can be used against you to deny your claim for compensation.
Remember, to an insurance company; an apology is as good as an admission of fault. Therefore, avoiding saying the wrong thing is a must.
Even though you shouldn’t apologize, it doesn’t mean you can’t be courteous. Just ensure it doesn’t include any form of an apology, such as:
- I didn’t realize I was speeding.
- It was my fault.
- I wasn’t paying attention.
- I didn’t see you.
- I apologize.
- My bad.
- My mistake.
- I thought I would make it through the yellow light.
- You didn’t do anything wrong.
- I didn’t see the stop sign.
Any of these statements can be taken as an apology and admission of fault, which is why you should avoid saying them.
Safe Statements to Use After a Car Accident
After you are involved in an accident, you should call the authorities. Even if damages and injuries seem minor, it’s smart to have an official police report created.
Once you have reported the incident, speak to the other driver to determine if anyone was injured. Even if injuries occur, don’t give in and apologize.
It’s best to limit your conversation with the other driver and their passengers as much as possible at the accident scene.
When the police arrive, be sure to keep any statement you give to the facts. Don’t make assumptions or give your opinion about what happened.
Never blame the other driver or admit fault for what happened. It’s the police who are tasked with determining who was at fault for the accident, and this determination will be listed in the police report.
If paramedics come to the scene, don’t turn down treatment because you don’t think you were injured. High-stress situations like car accidents cause adrenaline to pump through your veins.
This can mask some injuries, which is why you should be checked out, no matter how you feel.
Protecting Your Rights After a Car Accident
Car accidents can be confusing situations. Staying calm and avoiding talking too much will help you avoid any serious issues and ensure you don’t say the things mentioned above.
It’s also best to avoid giving a statement to an insurance company without first speaking to a personal injury attorney in Corpus Christi. They can help ensure you don’t say something that may be considered an admission of fault.
