Should you admit fault in a car accident?
Although you might feel obligated to discuss what caused the accident with the other driver(s) who were involved in the collision with, it is better that you don’t. Instead, you should keep the discussion to a minimum while you exchange information with those involved. After you have provided the other driver with your name, license information, insurance company and policy number, etc., and vice versa, then you are going to want to contact the police so an official report can be written up.
When the police arrive to take a statement, do not admit fault. While you will need to provide details pertaining to the crash, you do not need to say “I am responsible for the accident. It was my fault.” The officer will simply use the details provided to determine who needs to be cited, if anyone, and what factors contributed to the crash occurring. And when it comes time to file a claim with your insurer, the adjuster will be the one to decide who was responsible for the accident.
Why should I not admit fault if I think I caused an accident?
If you were involved in an auto accident and think you may have caused it, before admitting fault, contact a nearby accident lawyer to discuss the incident.
Not admitting fault doesn’t necessarily constitute lying. The fact is, accidents are traumatic experiences that can interfere with our cognitive abilities. After a collision, you aren’t exactly able to process information the way you typically would which means you could be forgetting to factor in other things that could have also caused the crash. For example, let’s say you merged into another driver’s lane and they hit you. You know you forgot to look over before merging and blame yourself for the accident.
But how do you know that the other driver wasn’t engaging in any illegal or prohibited behavior at this time? How do you know they weren’t driving too fast for roadway conditions or merging over at the same time as you and also forgot to look? The point is, even if you think you were responsible for the accident, the other driver may share some of the blame. Therefore, it is best not to assume you were the sole contributor to the crash occurring and admit fault.
Other Important Things to Keep in Mind After an Accident
- Aside from refraining from saying something that could cause all of the blame to fall on you, it also important that you contact an accident lawyer in your city right away. If the other driver is attempting to hold you responsible for the accident although they may share some of the responsibility, they could file a claim with your insurer and leave you without a way to cover your losses. Although your insurer might allow you to file a claim under your own policy, especially if you live in a no-fault state, you could see an increase in your rates.
- Something else to keep in mind is that while you do want to keep your conversation to a minimum, that is until you are represented by an accident lawyer, you do not want to provide anyone, including the other driver, the officer, or the insurer with any false information.
- If the other driver happens to pass a comment that might imply he/she contributed to the crash, be sure to document it.
Because accident lawyers never recommend that a victim of a car accident admit fault after a crash until they have consulted with a legal expert, USAttorneys.com is here to help you get connected with one in your area. To find a reputable accident law firm near you that can advise you on how to proceed forward, contact USAttorneys.com today.
