Should I Say “Sorry” After An Accident?

Posted on

Motor vehicle accidents are traumatic events that tend to take those involved by surprise, leaving them disoriented and overwhelmed. In the aftermath, one of the first things you should do is make sure everyone is okay. Oftentimes, it feels almost natural to apologize to the other driver in the process of this, regardless if you were at fault or not. However, this is a major mistake you should not make, no matter how shaken up you might be. You might think you are being polite, but you are actually derailing your personal injury case. This simple apology can be perceived as an admittance of fault, ruining your chances at acquiring the compensation you deserve and likely need to pay for medical expenses, property damage, and other costs associated with the accident.

Why You Should Never Apologize For An Accident

If your insurance provider finds out that you apologized, they might interpret it to mean you were at fault and deny you coverage. It can also be used against you by the other party’s insurance company to argue that, since you were at fault for the accident, you are not entitled to compensation. Even if you take your case to court, the apology can be admitted as evidence and severely handicap your case.

Of course, this does not mean you have to be rude. Find out if anyone needs medical assistance and collect all the necessary personal information. You should also take some time to write down as much information about the crash as you can while the details are still fresh in your mind. Include the date, time, weather and traffic conditions, and any other pertinent information you will want to recall later.

Another step you should take instead of trying to offer apologies is to call the police, regardless of how severe or minor the accident is. Ask them to file a police report, which you will want a copy of for your insurance company. Speaking of which, you must call your insurance company to notify them of the accident and inform them of the damage and any injuries that might have been sustained.

Milwaukee Personal Injury Attorneys

At Samster Konkel & Safran, we understand the difficulties you might be facing if you were involved in a motor vehicle accident and are here to fight for your right to compensation. We have successfully settled over 15,000 cases using our extensive knowledge and determination to get to the truth and would be honored to do the same for you. Let our Milwaukee car accident lawyers put their knowledge and 100 years of collective experience to work for you.

Contact our office today at (414) 404-5818 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a knowledgeable member of our legal team.

Get in touch with us today to get started with your FREE case review. We’re only a call, click, or short drive away.