Car accidents can be complicated events. As such, they may be interpreted or remembered differently by each involved party and each witness. Even so, sometimes the party who’s clearly at fault for the accident might not be willing to assume responsibility for their actions. When someone caused an accident due to a traffic violation or even a criminal act such as DUI, they may be inclined to lie about how an accident happened.
If you know the other party isn’t being truthful about how a car accident happened, this can be a difficult position to find yourself. If you were injured in the collision, the stakes are all the higher for proving the at-fault party’s account is inaccurate, and that you are owed damages for your injuries.
Keep reading to learn more about how you can manage this difficult situation.
Don’t Confront the Other Party on Your Own
If at any point during your claim you become aware that the at-fault party lied or is otherwise being untruthful about how their liability for the accident – even putting the blame on you – it’s essential to avoid confronting them on your own.
You may be tempted to send them a nasty letter, email, or phone call to give them a piece of your mind or “set the record straight.” Disregard this temptation and avoid all contact with the at-fault party. Doing so could irreparably harm your claim and cause even more serious legal trouble for you.
Instead, get in touch with a personal injury attorney who can manage your car accident injury claim and help you hold the other party accountable for damages.
Review the Police Officer’s Report
When anyone is injured in a car accident, the police should be called to the scene to take an accident report. The purpose of this report is to capture basic facts about the incident (where it happened, who was involved, etc.) as well as a statement from each party about how the accident occurred.
Although police reports don’t hold much weight in court, insurance companies use them to determine fault for an accident. For this reason, it’s important to review what the other party said about how the accident happened and dispute any inaccuracy you find within their statement.
Disputing a police report can help you avoid legal conflict when an insurance company is willing to believe your version of events – especially when evidence clearly points to your account being the more accurate one. Even so, don’t count on this outcome. Insurance companies are highly reluctant
Don’t Shoot the Messenger
It’s important to avoid becoming angry at third parties from whom you learn about the at-fault driver’s misstatements. It’s natural to feel angry, but it’s inappropriate to direct this anger at the police officer taking your accident report or the insurance adjuster who takes your statement.
It will do you no favors to become hostile with these kinds of people, none of which were involved in the accident or saw it happen. Always keep that in mind and do your best to politely articulate how the other party’s version of events is inaccurate or that you remember things differently.
Make Sure You Gather Evidence
After your car accident happens, make sure you document as much detail about it as possible. This means taking photos and videos that show where the cars were when the accident occurred, any road signs or hazards, the condition of each vehicle, and any injuries you or others may have.
As soon as possible, write down how you remember the accident occurring. Make sure to note what you were doing before and during the collision. It’s OK if you don’t remember everything. Don’t try to fill in the gaps with what you think happened – only what you know happened. Anything you’re uncertain of can be disproven, which can affect the outcome of your car accident injury claim.
Ultimately, your evidence can point toward inaccuracies with the other party’s false statements.
Contact an Attorney for Help
As soon as possible, contact a car accident lawyer for legal assistance. You should do this regardless of whether or not the at-fault party isn’t telling the truth. Your attorney can help you manage your claim and challenge the inaccuracies found within the other party’s version of events, especially when they accuse you of causing the accident.
If you’d like to learn more about how a personal injury lawyer for car accidents can help, get in touch with the Law Office of Robert J. Kaiser. We can provide the personalized legal support you require to move forward with your life.
Get started with us today by contacting Law Office of Robert J. Kaiser online now!