Many lawyers advise their injury clients to avoid discussing their accidents with others. You should not even talk about what you were doing before the accident or your life after the accident. Below are dangers you might create by discussing the accident, injury claim, and related issues.
Admitting Liability
You might admit liability for the accident if you discuss it with others. For example, you might come across as admitting liability if you:
Liability admission might bar you from collecting any damages. Even if you hire a lawyer, your admission of guilt makes their work harder than it would have been otherwise. The defendant might even file a counterclaim against you to demand compensation for their damages.
Proving Your Contribution to the Crash
You do not deserve full compensation for your damages if you contributed to the accident. Depending on state laws, you might lose some or all of your compensation if the defendant proves you contributed to the crash. Again, talking too much about your case might give the defendant the ammunition they need to prove your contribution.
Consider a defendant who is liable for your crash because they ran the red light. If the defendant hears that you took some liquor before the crash, they might claim you couldn't brake in time to avoid the crash because you were intoxicated.
Downplaying Your Injuries
The extent and nature of your injuries greatly influence your damages. For example, serious injuries usually mean high medical bills and serious pain and suffering. Both things increase your damages compensation. However, you might downplay your injuries and lower your compensation if you talk too much about your case.
Consider a case where you have included compensation for a back injury and chronic back pain after a rear-end crash. If you start talking about your accident to third parties, you might let it slip how you managed to carry a heavy box after getting physiotherapy. If the defendant hears that statement, they might conclude that your back injury is just a minor sore.
Weakening Your Damage Mitigation Attempts
Personal injury law expects you to mitigate your damages after an auto accident. For example, you should tow your car to a safe location, get immediate healthcare, and follow your doctor's advice. The injury court might reduce your damages if you fail to mitigate them.
Consider a case where you undergo medical treatment requiring you to abstain from alcohol. If you talk about drinking at a party, the defendant might get wind of it and use the information to prove you did not follow your doctor's orders.
For more info, contact a local car accident lawyer.
Share28 August 2023
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