The success of your personal injury case rides on many factors, but one you are entirely in charge of is what you don't say. Read on to find out why you must avoid being so stressed out or confused that you say the wrong thing to the wrong person after a car accident.

At the Accident Scene

It's perfectly natural to be in a state of shock after an accident. To preserve the integrity of your case, speak about what happened only to certain people. Law enforcement personnel will be interviewing all parties at the scene to determine the cause of the accident. They will be looking out for drivers who appear to be intoxicated and that have empty liquor bottles and cans in their vehicles. As long you are certain of to whom you are speaking, you should comply with any requests about the accident to the best of your ability. Do not, however, speculate, guess, or apologize for anything at the scene, no matter what. The resulting police or accident report generated by information gathered at the scene is important for your case.

The Insurance Adjuster Interview

Soon after the accident, you may receive a call. In most cases, you must speak with your insurance carrier if they call. You can, however, ask them to wait until you can speak to a personal injury attorney. Just because they are on your side is no reason to give an inaccurate accident summary to them. On the other hand, you should never speak to the adjuster for the other side. The purpose of the phone call is not so much to get your side of the story but to find reasons to pin the blame for the wreck on you. If you share any blame, your compensation will be reduced.

On Social Media

Like most, you probably count on the support you get when posting on social media. While dealing with the trauma of an accident can be difficult, this is not the place to seek solace. Your posts are not as private as you may think. If your case comes to trial, the other side can subpoena anything posted on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. to use against you. While you might think your posts innocent, what you say can easily be misconstrued be misunderstood. Even an assurance to your friends that you are okay could damage your case.

To learn more about the importance of keeping things to yourself, speak to a personal injury lawyer like Kevin Renfro. 

Share