The aftermath of a motor vehicle accident can be stressful and overwhelming and you will likely have a lot of worries immediately flood your mind. While it is easier said than done, it is important to remain calm at this time and to not let your emotions get the best of you. The last thing you need at a time like this is to say something you end up regretting and paying for later. One thing you should absolutely never do after an accident is apologize to the other driver. This might seem like the natural thing to do, but saying that you are sorry can have serious ramifications and potentially cost you when you attempt to file a personal injury claim.
Below is a list of reasons why you should never apologize after a motor vehicle accident:
- Admitting fault: When you apologize to someone, it sounds a lot like you are accepting responsibility for what occurred. Therefore, saying sorry to another driver can be viewed as an admission of fault for the accident, even if you were not actually at fault. If you say this in the presence of the police officer who is writing the accident report, he or she might even write it down, creating a record of your apology. Keep in mind that the at-fault party’s insurance company will do everything possible to ensure you do not obtain compensation, so your apology will give them just the leverage they need to argue that you were either completely or partially to blame for the accident.
- You do not have the facts: Even if you believe you were at fault for the accident, now is still not the time to apologize. A lot of factors can contribute to a motor vehicle accident and you will not know all the facts in the immediate aftermath, so let law enforcement officials, your attorney, and the insurance companies do their jobs and examine all the details, so they can figure out what actually went wrong and who should be held responsible for it.
- Focus on what is important: Apologizing is not going to help anyone after an accident. What you should really do is check to see if everyone is okay and call for emergency medical assistance, if necessary. If no one is hurt, take some time to exchange information with the other driver and collect contact information for all passengers and any witnesses who might have seen what happened. You should also take as many pictures as you can of the scene since this will provide crucial evidence. Memory fades over time, but the pictures you take will last and support your case in a way that most other pieces of evidence cannot.
- Talking to the insurance company: You should also be careful with what you say to the insurance adjuster and refrain from apologizing for anything. The adjuster might even try to coax an apology out of you, so try not to get conversational. Keep your conversations, short, to the point, and remove the word “sorry” from your vocabulary, or you can be sure they will attempt to use it against you. Remember, the insurance adjuster’s job is to save their company money, which means doing whatever they can to pay you less or nothing at all.
Car Accident Attorney in Union County
If you sustained injuries in a motor vehicle accident that was caused by another person's negligent actions, you have a right to pursue fair and just compensation. At Bridges, Jillisky, Weller & Gullifer, LLC in Union County, our team of attorneys is dedicated to fighting on behalf of the wrongfully injured and will do what it takes to ensure the responsible party is held liable for your injuries.
Begin your personal injury case today and contact our law firm at (937) 403-9033 to request your complimentary case review with one of our knowledgeable attorneys.