After an accident, fair compensation is always the goal. However, when one party involved in the accident is not telling the truth, the other driver could suffer in a big way. Learn how a lie can affect your accident claim, and what you can do when the other driver isn't honest.
Stay at the Scene
Never leave the scene after an accident. You should call the police, and patiently wait until they arrive to give your account of the crash. Traffic and other accidents might delay the arrival of the police, but If you leave beforehand, the other driver can create their own narrative, and if there isn't any evidence to disprove it — their statement will be the official account on the police report.
Only if you're present can you call out any false information the other driver provides. Additionally, your attorney will need an official statement from you on the police report to help prove your claim. Keep in mind that leaving the scene of an accident can also be considered a crime.
Don't Act Guilty
As the police ask the other driver to recant their memory about what happened, stay calm, even if what the other driver says is an outright lie. An accident is never a fun situation to deal with, and if you've been injured in the collision, it can be outright stressful.
However, if you get irate, angry, and aggressive in your reaction to their lies, the officer might take note of this. Unfortunately, it might make you look like the guilty party. Remember, the truth doesn't need any defenders; it always shows itself. Be calm and let the driver that is lying expose him or herself. If there is any fighting to be done, the attorney will do it for you.
Collect Witness Statements
Try to gather as many statements from witnesses as you can. A witness is an unbiased party who can give a detailed account of what happened, as they have likely seen the accident from a perspective that you have not. As a result, the information they offer can be especially valuable to proving fault in the accident and exposing a lie. As long as the witness's information and their statement are on the police report, the insurance company will typically take into account what they've said. Your attorney might also contact the witnesses for further information to help prove your case.
An attorney doesn't just help you come up with a value for your claim. One of the attorney's most important roles in the claims process is proving fault, even if they have to uncover a lie to do so. Consider partnering with an injury attorney to have someone on your side.
