In the aftermath of a car accident in Virginia, your adrenaline is likely to be running high. This can make your heart race and loosen your lips – which, in turn, can seriously hurt your chances of succeeding in a car accident claim. While talking is a common coping mechanism during times of stress, saying the wrong thing to the wrong person after a crash can have lasting implications. Avoid saying the following in the aftermath of a crash.
“I’m Sorry”
It may sound innocuous enough but saying that you are sorry can be interpreted as an admission of liability (either partly or entirely). In any subsequent lawsuit, the other driver can use your apology to argue that you should bear part of the blame for the accident (and, therefore, be financially responsible for the injuries and losses you and the other driver sustained).
“I’m Not Hurt”
The moments after a car crash are not the time to play tough. Unless the crash is nothing more than a mere fender-bender, you may have suffered serious injuries as a result of the collision. What is more, the effects of adrenaline can mask any pain or discomfort you may feel – in other words, you may not even know that you are injured until your adrenaline wears off several hours or even days after the wreck. By then, your injuries may have worsened considerably. For this reason, it is always a good idea to be evaluated at the scene of the crash by emergency medical personnel and to be treated at a local emergency room as soon as possible following the crash. Failure to do so can limit the amount of compensation you might otherwise receive.
“Let’s Settle This Without Involving the Insurance Companies”
You may be rightly concerned about your insurance rates going up following a crash, but hastily settling your car crash lawsuit claims can be even more disastrous for you. When you settle a legal claim you have following a car wreck without adequately taking stock of your likely expenses and losses (both past and future), you may find yourself without enough resources to adequately address your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses. Once you settle your case – regardless of the dollar amount for which you settle – you are generally prohibited from obtaining additional compensation from the at-fault party.
Contact Our Office Today
A seasoned car accident attorney will be able to calculate the amount of financial compensation you should be receiving. Insurance companies who may be eager to take advantage of an unrepresented party can quickly become more reasonable when they are negotiating with an attorney.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by another party, contact a Virginia personal injury attorney to find out what legal options you may have. The legal team at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp has almost 40 years of experience advocating for injured victims and their families and will help you get the financial compensation you deserve.
Each attorney at our firm is a skilled negotiator, but each one also has extensive experience in litigation should the insurance company fail to negotiate in good faith, like a $30,000 jury award for one client who suffered a whiplash injury in a chain reaction accident.
Call our office today for a free and confidential case evaluation.
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