Apologizing after a car accident may seem natural. However, even an “I’m sorry” to express sympathy to another injury victim may be misconstrued as an admission of guilt.
There are various reasons why “I’m sorry” is the wrong thing to say after a car accident. These will be discussed in the following article along with actions you should take following a collision.
If you were injured in a car accident and need case-specific information, contact an experienced San Antonio personal injury attorney for help.
If you say “sorry” to another driver after a car accident, that driver is likely to assume you are accepting blame for the accident. That driver and other witnesses who hear your apology will probably tell the responding officer.
Then, your admission will be noted in the police report. The police report will be used by the other driver’s insurance company to deny, shift blame, or reduce the amount of any injury payout you may have received.
Another reason never to apologize after an accident is that you do not know what caused the accident until there is a thorough investigation. A faulty car part may have caused the accident, not either driver.
There are actions to take instead of apologizing after a car accident. It is natural to feel concern for others
The best way to express this concern is to check and see if anyone is injured and needs medical assistance. You can simply ask, “Are you hurt?”
Beyond assessing injuries, you should do the following:
Do not offer any opinions or talk about your injuries. Never attempt to self-diagnose your injuries or say that you feel fine.
While you may report the accident to your own insurance company, try to speak with a car accident attorney before talking to the other driver’s insurer.
If you already apologized, you may have done so only to show concern for others at the accident scene. This is understandable to juries.
An experienced car accident attorney can help to lessen the impact an apology has on the outcome of your car accident claim.
You can speak with an experienced car accident attorney in San Antonio by calling The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC, today. One of our attorneys will meet with you at no cost to review your claim.
The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC, is a bilingual Texas law firm built on client satisfaction. We are highly successful, peer-recommended, and have served the community for decades.
Contact The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC, now! The sooner you start your car accident case, the faster we can help you get the compensation you deserve!
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