5 Things Not To Say After A Motor Vehicle Accident!

By MRSB | March 21st, 2022

A motor vehicle accident can certainly change your life, and the lives of your family and friends forever.

Mix that together with the fact that repairs to a damaged vehicle can be expensive, and take weeks to finish – and, the fact that injuries sustained in an accident can follow you throughout the rest of your life. With that said, the moments after a motor vehicle accident are inherently critical.

If you accidentally say or do the wrong thing, it can potentially hurt your chances of getting you the right settlement.

We’ve listed a few tips below on what you should avoid doing and saying after a motor vehicle accident to help protect the compensation you can receive and allow you the ability to focus on just your health and recovery.

It’s important to be mindful of what you say and do after a motor vehicle accident. Saying or doing the wrong thing can greatly impact your settlement.

What To Do After An Accident:

It may be hard to think clearly or speak clearly after a motor vehicle accident, but you can certainly control your actions.

If you’ve never been involved in a motor vehicle accident before, you should make it a point to avoid doing any of the following:

• Leave your vehicle on the road, or attempt to flee the scene.
• Attempt to remove/clean up debris from the road on your own.
• Be physical, confrontational, or rude to the other driver(s).
• Ignore any of the injuries you’ve sustained in the accident itself.
• Neglect calling the police to report the accident.
• Admit fault.

After you’ve collected the other driver’s information, it’s best to remain inside your vehicle (if possible) and call law enforcement to help you navigate the situation from there.

For the best possible outcome after a motor vehicle accident, you should remember to do the following:

• Obtain a physical copy of your accident report.
• Take pictures of any damaged property and any injuries from as many angles as possible.
• Document the entirety of the accident by writing down your thoughts and photographing your surroundings.
• Get the contact information of all other motorists and the officers who responded to the scene.

It’s important to make sure you call law enforcement after a motor vehicle accident. Don’t try to handle the situation on your own – they’re trained in how to best assist you.

5 Things Not To Say After An A Motor Vehicle Accident

After a motor vehicle accident, you’ll want to avoid any kind of confrontation with the other motorist(s). Understandably, you’ll feel quite emotional and frustrated while speaking to them, but it’s important to make sure that you and any of the passengers in your vehicle maintain your composure.

When speaking with the other motorist(s), your insurance company, the police, or any other witnesses, you should avoid making the following mistakes:

• “It Was My Fault.”

The worst thing you can do after a motor vehicle accident is admitting fault. Even if you believe that you did cause the accident itself, do not admit fault. You could be falsely admitting to something that isn’t true and it’s quite hard for your attorney to walk that claim back – not to mention how it can input bias into a police investigation before it’s even been conducted.

Other common phrases that are mistakes:

• “I should’ve paid more attention.”
• “I didn’t even see you!”

• “I’m Sorry!”

For any human, it’s instinctual to want to apologize after a motor vehicle accident, regardless of whether or not you caused it. While speaking with the other driver will feel tense, it’s best to make sure that you avoid apologizing to diffuse the situation.

An apology can be considered an admission of fault. If anyone is injured or seems to be hurt, ask if they’re okay or if they need you to call an ambulance. But remember, there is absolutely no reason for you to say that you’re sorry during this time.

• “I’m Not Hurt.”

Even if you don’t feel sore after a motor vehicle accident, you most likely don’t even know if you’re actually hurt or not. Adrenaline is coursing through your veins, so you might not feel the actual impacts of an injury until much later on. It’s also important to make sure that you see your doctor immediately after an accident to ensure you’re in good health.

Click here to read more about invisible injuries after a motor vehicle accident.

Click here to view statistics about motor vehicle accidents in 2022.

Furthermore, traumatic brain injuries such as concussions are some of the most common injuries that one can sustain after a motor vehicle accident. Saying that you’re not hurt after a motor vehicle accident can certainly hurt your chances of getting any compensation for physical injuries you’ve actually sustained. If someone at the scene asks if you’re okay – be honest, don’t be a hero.

• “I Think . . .”

Try to avoid saying any unclear, speculative, or false statements right away. Take some time and wait until you’ve been able to clear your head before talking about the accident itself. Write down some of your initial thoughts but always try to avoid mentioning anything that you’re unclear about.

• “I Accept”

Whether your insurance company or the other driver’s insurance company offers you a settlement offer, do not accept anything until you’ve had the chance to speak with an attorney.

Most settlement offers represent the minimum value that your claim is worth and insurance companies will only do this to settle the claim as quickly as possible – they don’t care about your needs.

Future medical issues may arise – have a doctor assess your injuries, speak to an attorney and let them help you calculate what settlement your injuries truly deserve.

“People ask why I like being a lawyer. I get the opportunity to help somebody every day. What could be better than that?” – Don Marcari.

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