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People are trained from a young age to be polite and reassuring, so it is no surprise that when a car accident occurs, the instinct is often to downplay the extent of potential injuries when speaking with the person who hit you. Offering the other driver condolences might seem like a good idea, but all too often it is the exact wrong thing to do, as those kind statements might be used against you in a legal proceeding.
The moments right after a car accident are stressful, and it can be very difficult to think straight. The best thing to do is to say as little as possible, leaving it to the insurance companies and the police to sift through the evidence and information. As tempting as it might be to offer reassurances such as “accidents can happen to anyone,” these words can be twisted and used against you.
There are things you can do to help build your case, and to keep you from saying something you might regret. If you have a camera or smartphone, you can take pictures of the scene of the accident. Though details can be important, wider scope photographs can be useful for providing context to how the accident occurred. Including stop signs, traffic signals, and other important indicators of the flow of traffic in the pictures can also be helpful.
If you are involved in an accident, you can expect the other driver to try to shift the blame onto you. The other driver’s insurance will be looking to limit their liability, and it is more important to be truthful than to be kind. Please, consult with an experienced attorney about your case to ensure that your right is respected and you receive the compensation to which you are entitled.
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Finz & Finz, P.C. is a New York and Long Island personal injury law firm based out of Mineola, NY. It was founded in 1984 and is highly rated, with many honors and awards of excellence.
