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Traffic Accidents and Verbal Statements: What You Should Not Say
One of the most difficult things for people to deal with in relation to traffic accidents and verbal statements is the fact what they say early in the process can have powerful impacts later on. People involved in traffic accidents will end up dealing with complex bureaucracies like the police department and insurance companies. People should understand that things they say at the scene of the accident or when talking to insurance companies can be used as evidence against them later in the case. In fact, people can even accidentally settle their claims without meaning to when talking to insurance companies because the law and legal ethics give clients a wide degree of authority to settle their own cases.
What Not to Say to Police
The first place many people make mistakes with regard to saying things they should not is when they are talking to the police after an accident. When people get into a traffic accident, it is important to call the police. This will usually involve an officer coming to the scene and taking statements from both drivers. It is important to be truthful when giving these statements, but it is also important not to volunteer more information than a person has access to.
For instance, many people get into trouble when they apologize or admit fault during these initial statements. That admission can be problematic to deal with during trial. Determining who is at fault for a traffic accident is the job of the court. People at the scene may believe they were at fault, but they should not say that because they cannot know for sure.
Another problem that can come up for people at the scene is when they are discussing injuries. People often tell the officer or the paramedics that they are not hurt. However, serious injuries arising from car accidents can take weeks to develop in some cases. No one can know the extent of their own injuries at the scene.
What not to Say to Insurance Companies
Avoiding admitting fault or a lack of injury is also important when talking to opposing insurance companies, but there is another thing to keep in mind. Insurance companies may try to get a person to settle their case without talking to an attorney. This can happen all the time, but it is especially common in cases where the company thinks the driver has a good claim that they want dropped. People should understand that once a claim has been settled, there is almost no way that it can be reopened. Therefore, people should be sure to consult with an attorney before settling any legal claims.
Traffic accidents can cause serious, life-changing injuries, and it is unfortunate when people foreclose on their own recovery with mistaken statements. If you have been injured in a traffic accident, contact an experienced Milwaukee personal injury attorney today to fight for the fair compensation that you deserve.
