After you’ve been involved in an auto accident, your adrenaline is pumping. Things start to feel chaotic, and your nerves are on edge. When emotions are running high, it can be very easy to forget level-headed thinking and usual restraint. However, it’s very important to realize that what you say at the scene of an accident can haunt you later.
What You Say Can Be Used As Evidence Later On
Many times people will blurt out information without realizing it. Things like “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there.” can be used as strong evidence later because it shows that the driver felt they were at fault for the accident. Your car wreck lawyer Los Angeles will talk with the police and witnesses to determine if any valuable information was said by the other driver that could support their guilt.
According to any knowledgeable Los Angeles personal injury attorney, you should monitor what you say at an accident scene. While you may say something like “I didn’t see you.”, that doesn’t mean that you necessarily caused the accident. Rather, the other driver may have run a red light, which is why you didn’t see them. In retrospect, they would be at fault for the accident. However, the statement that you made at the accident scene can be used against you by the other driver’s car accident lawyer.
Misconstrued Statements
Being mindful of what you say is extremely important. While it’s impossible to not talk with the other driver while exchanging information like your insurance, you should keep what you say short. Even saying something like “I’m sorry.” can mean two different things. You may say it as a courtesy that you’re sorry the accident ever happened. However, the other driver’s car wreck lawyer Los Angeles may misconstrue your statement to mean that you’re admitting fault for the accident.
Any good car injury attorney will be able to misconstrue the meaning of the statements you made at the accident scene. That’s why your auto accident lawyer in Los Angeles will recommend not talking too much at the scene. You should simply exchange information and take witness accounts, if available.
Be Careful Around Witnesses
Your Los Angeles injury lawyer will also warn you that you need to be careful what you say around the witnesses. These witnesses may be called on later after your case is underway. Any information you supplied in front of a witness can be brought up during your trial by the other driver’s car injury attorney. Or, the other driver may have notated what you said from the witness to support their case.
When you’re involved in a vehicle accident, it’s best to keep talking to a minimum. Be mindful of everything you want to say before it comes out of your mouth. Your car accident lawyer should be your main contact source with the other driver and their insurance company throughout your case. This way, the other driver’s auto accident lawyer in Los Angeles can’t misconstrue what you say.