Car accidents in South Florida can leave you and your family in a haze of confusion in the moments following the accident. Perhaps you have been injured, are worried about the damage to your car, and are unsure what evidence to collect. In addition, you will probably interact with the driver and passengers in the other vehicle. Despite the importance of exchanging information with the other driver, what you say to them can impact any future personal injury lawsuit you may file.
No matter how natural it may be, apologizing for a car accident – even when you are not at fault – can easily be interpreted as accepting responsibility. You can be held responsible for the accident even if it was not your fault. Your insurance company, police officers who investigate the case, and jurors may use saying “sorry” against you in court.
After your accident, you should speak with a Boynton Beach car accident lawyer. You can get advice about how to react to an accident from our attorneys at Bodden & Bennett. For more than 30 years, we have helped injured victims obtain the compensation they deserve – and the first step is knowing what to say.
Our Florida car accident attorneys can be reached at (561) 806-5229 or by contacting us online for a free, no-obligation consultation.
What To Say After a Car Accident in South Florida
Immediately after experiencing a wreck, you should call 9-1-1 and report the incident. Ask the other driver if he or she or their passengers were injured in the crash. Don’t apologize even if injuries were sustained. When you’re at the scene, it’s best not to speak much. Share insurance information and contact information instead.
Be sure to make factual statements to the police and other first responders when they arrive. Make no assumptions or opinions about the collision. It is also advisable not to admit fault for the accident or blame the other driver. Authorities will investigate the wreck and determine who is responsible. In any future legal case, the police report will be used as evidence, and revising it is hard, especially when deciding who is at fault.
After a wreck, adrenaline may be pumping, and you may not realize you have been injured. Therefore, do not outright refuse treatment from paramedics. Rather, let them examine and treat you according to their advice.
To put it simply, the police investigate car wrecks while paramedics treat injuries. Therefore, it would be best for you to let them do their job and only provide factual information when asked since you are not an expert car accident investigator or a medical professional.
What Should I Say to My Insurance Company?
If you are involved in a car accident, you are legally required to notify your insurance provider. It is important to be particularly careful when interacting with the agent. An insurance company is a business. They care more about their bottom line than they care about you. As a result, they will twist your words to deny your claim.
You will be asked leading questions by the insurance agent. They will use that recording to prove that they are not responsible for any expenses or financial losses you may have suffered due to the wreck if you admit fault or even hint at being at fault. Therefore, do not admit fault, only provide details of what happened. Avoid intimating that you were at fault by telling them as little as possible. If possible, file your claim online so no one can record your conversation.
It would be better if you spoke with a Florida auto accident attorney before calling your insurance company. The attorney can give you advice about how to proceed. Your lawyer can also handle communication with the insurance adjuster for you. You will then be able to avoid saying anything that might be construed as you being responsible for the accident.
What NOT to Say After a Car Accident
In the aftermath of a wreck, it may seem natural for the other driver to apologize somehow. Unfortunately, despite being considered a virtue, politeness may damage your reputation after an accident. In addition to the obvious “I’m sorry” there are many other kinds of apologies to avoid.
Your ability to seek compensation could be compromised if you use any of these 15 phrases:
- I’m sorry, sorry, or I’m so sorry
- It was my fault
- I did not see you
- I could not see you
- My bad or “my fault.”
- I apologize
- I should have been more careful
- I did not know I was speeding
- I didn’t see the stop sign
- It’s not your fault
- I thought I could beat the light
- I take full responsibility
- I did not know I couldn’t turn there
- I thought I had enough room
- I took my eyes off the road for one second
Concern over injuries, whether to you, the other driver, or any passengers, is fine. However, practicing kindness and courteous behavior can help ease your anger or frustration, as well as that of the other driver.
Be courteous, but do not apologize or admit fault.
I Accidentally Admitted Fault. What Now?
Even apologizing for the inconvenience of being in a collision may seem natural in the aftermath of a car accident. Unfortunately, any attempt to recover compensation can be much more difficult if you apologize or admit fault. However, it is still possible.
Florida follows the “comparative negligence” doctrine, as do most states. Therefore, you may still be able to recover compensation even if you were partially responsible for the auto accident. In addition, you may still be able to recover compensation if you are found to be less than 50 percent at fault. However, in that case, the amount you receive will be significantly reduced.
Talk To a Florida Car Accident Attorney Today
After a car accident, things can get stressful. Saying the wrong thing can seriously damage your ability to seek compensation later, and knowing what to say and to whom can be confusing. That is why it is important to speak with an experienced car accident attorney before speaking with your insurer.
The Bodden and Bennett Law Group has decades of experience representing injured clients following a collision. Our job is to deal with the insurance companies to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact a Florida car accident lawyer at (561) 806-5229 or contact us online today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
