Don't Be Fooled by These Common Car Accident Myths
Posted on: 5 January 2018
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It's so easy to make unwise decisions when you are under a lot of stress, and being injured in a car wreck is undoubtedly a stressful situation. Some poor choices during the delicate time after an accident might end up costing you a lot of money, however. The driver who caused your injury should pay for all the ways that the accident has impacted your life, and you must take care not to fall victim to certain car accident myths that could keep you from that compensation. Read on and learn more about avoiding those myths and getting paid the money damages you deserve.
Myth: It's okay to feel sympathetic if the other driver feels bad for causing the accident.
It was, after all, an accident and it can happen to almost anyone. You may encounter a situation where the other driver is so nice that you begin to feel bad about it yourself. It may be human nature to assure the other driver of your well-being and try to minimize the impact of the accident, but you would be extremely foolish to do so.
Once the initial shock of the accident has worn off and you both speak to your insurance adjuster, you may be singing a different tune. Don't let your words to the other driver, to medical personnel, or your social media postings make it look like your accident was no big deal. You must realize that if you admit to any part in the accident, you could be reducing your compensation. Leave that information for your personal injury attorney to deal with during the negotiations phase.
Myth: The police report has assigned fault already.
If law enforcement responded to the wreck, there will be a police or accident report. This report is very important, since it contains the contact information of all parties and whether or not a traffic citation was issued for anyone. It also may contain the officer's opinion as to the how the accident occurred and who was at fault.
While this can be interesting information, you may be surprised to learn that these opinions given on the accident report cannot be used in a court of law; they are inadmissible. Instead, provide the report to your attorney to be used as needed, and don't just give up if the officer claims that you were at fault for the wreck.
Myth: You can take your time to file your claims.
Although you are right to be concerned about the statute of limitations, it is usually measured in years, not months. As long you take action as soon as you can, you likely still have time. Don't delay, however, since valuable evidence and eye-witnesses could disappear with time. The sooner you speak to an attorney, the sooner you can get started on getting compensated for the accident.
Don't be fooled by these or other myths. Stick with the facts by hiring a lawyer through firms such as Dunbar & Dunbar.