Auto Accident Attorneys in Pennsylvania
When a car accident occurs, your first instinct may be to say – I’m sorry! You may not think you’re at fault, but you want to express sympathy. Think twice! Apologizing after a car accident can derail your legal claim and leave you without the compensation that you deserve. Our auto accident attorneys in Pennsylvania explain what’s wrong with saying you’re sorry after a car accident.
What’s wrong with apologizing after a car accident?
Apologizing after a car accident may be taken as an admission of fault. It can be used against you in order to deny your claim for compensation. What a party says is generally admissible in the case as long as it is relevant. When a person apologizes after a car accident, the other side may argue that they are expressing sympathy for their own actions and not just saying that it is regretful that an accident occurred. The exact words can be taken differently than the person meant and used against them to thwart their legal claim.
How can an apology hurt your Pennsylvania car accident case?
Pennsylvania rules of evidence determine what pieces of evidence the court hears to decide the case. In general, statements made out of court are not admissible. However, there are a number of exceptions. In general, what a party to the case says outside of court may be used against them. Pennsylvania law 225 Pa. Code § 803(25) allows a party to admit the other party’s own statement.
Of course, the party who makes the statement can try to explain its context. They can try to explain that the statement is made out of court, that they are not a trained personal injury attorney and that they only meant to calm the situation down rather than admit that they did anything wrong. However, it’s up to the jury to decide how to interpret the statement. It can only make it harder for the victim to recover fair compensation and create a needless distraction for the jury.
What should I say after an auto accident?
Since you can’t say I’m sorry! after a car accident, you may wonder what you should say after an accident. Your personal injury attorney will advise you that the best thing to say is Are you okay? and Can I call emergency services for you? Rather than admitting guilt, the best thing to do is summon law enforcement and first responders to the scene. Then, proceed to gather contact information from the other driver and any witnesses on the scene. Get the license plate and driver’s license information for the drivers involved. Also, take photos of the accident scene.
Contact Durlofsky Law Offices
If you’re hurt in a car accident, your personal injury law firm can help you interact with the other party. Don’t say you’re sorry! You want to preserve your legal rights and give yourself every opportunity to recover the financial compensation that you deserve. If you have been hurt in a car accident, contact our team of auto accident attorneys in Pennsylvania today.
