If you have been involved in a car accident in Lakeland, Florida, it’s natural to wonder whether there was anything you may have done to contribute to the accident, even if it was not your fault. However, you don’t necessarily have to speak your heart out and volunteer information that may, in fact, be irrelevant to the case.
Anything you say on the accident site will likely end up in the police report, and an insurance adjuster WILL use this information in an attempt to shift blame — even if only partially — to you, and thereby reduce the value of your claim (if not eliminate your recovery altogether). Make no mistake about it: the insurance adjuster will jump on anything you say to try to prove that you were somehow responsible for or contributed to the car accident. In this way, the insurance company can avoid paying you any compensation for your injuries.
Here are three examples of information that may or may not be relevant to your car accident case, but that you should definitely not volunteer to the police or an insurance adjuster without talking to your Lakeland car accident lawyer first:
“I am on medication.”
Perhaps you recently started a new prescription painkiller or anxiety medication? Maybe you took a dose of cough syrup or an allergy pill before getting behind the wheel? In any event, an insurance agent will almost certainly try to use that information against you, falsely accusing you of somehow contributing to the car accident because you were under the influence of a drug.
“I was exhausted.”
Fatigue is a common problem for drivers of all ages and backgrounds. And, while it is true that sleepy drivers do sometimes cause car accidents, just because you were tired, it does not necessarily mean that you were the one who made a driving error that caused the crash. Again, in almost every case, an insurance agent will hear this and make assumptions without knowing all the facts.
“My car hasn’t been working properly.”
Whether you have been driving with a taillight out, old brakes, or that funny noise that just won’t quit, it’s not uncommon for drivers to experience issue with their vehicles. In some cases, these issues may have contributed to the cause of a car accident. If so, the police will discover that in a standard vehicle safety check, rather than guessing the same way an insurance claims specialist might.
The insurance industry does not make billions of dollars by paying out every claim that comes across their desks. In fact, claims specialists are often incentivized, including receiving a bonus and pay scale incentives, for denying or reducing the pay out on claims. As such, a claims specialist will look for ANY and EVERY reason to either deny your claim or diminish the value of your claim. This is why it is crucial that you do not volunteer potentially damaging information to the police or the insurance claims specialists. To deal with insurers more effectively, it’s best to contact a Lakeland attorney who specializes in car accidents — they can help you maintain your right to compensation following a car accident.
Are you looking for a car accident attorney in Lakeland, Florida?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident because of the negligence of someone else in Lakeland, Florida, our experienced car accident attorney at O’Toole Law Group can help straighten out the injustice and fight for proper compensation. We can guide you throughout the process, deal with the insurers, gather evidence, and effectively present the case to help you get what you deserve. Contact our office today at (863) 533-5525 or visit our website to request a free consultation.
