Car accidents range from minor ‘fender benders’ to the extremely serious, and being involved in

an accident of any severity is an unpleasant and unwelcome experience. However, how you

respond to them can make a huge difference on the emotional and financial impact they will have

on you and others involved.

This brief article is aimed to provide some guidance into what you should, and often more

importantly, shouldn’t say to your insurance agent or company after the unfortunate situation of

having been involved in a car accident. Before getting into some specific things you should and

shouldn’t say, the following are a couple important, general considerations to keep in mind:

 DO NOT LIE

We have all heard the phrase, “honesty is the best policy.” This is especially true when dealing

with legal and often contentious situations, such as dealing with insurance companies and issues

such as liability, or fault. Plus, nobody would like to be charged with fraud!

 Insurance Companies are very skilled at what they do, and they often have different

objectives than you do.

Insurance companies know what questions to ask and how to ask them in order to elicit certain

answers. How you answer their questions can have an impact on the coverage your insurance

company provides and even your future premiums. Further, while insurance companies often

wish to get claims taken care of quickly and at a low cost to them, you desire to be treated with

the time and consideration you deserve, with the ultimate goal of obtaining the compensation

you deserve.

With those considerations in mind, it is easy to see why it is often best to seek a legal

representative, such as can be provided at Rankin & Rankin Law Firm, with the experience to

guide you through the process following an auto accident, and even communicate on your behalf.

What You Should Say

You should report the accident to your insurance company. This reporting should simply include

the basics of the accident. Importantly, you should just stick to the facts! Don’t give your

personal opinions or get sidetracked by engaging in ‘small talk.’ Your report of the accident

should include such basic details as:

•  Date and time of the accident
•  Location of the accident
•  Direction of travel of the vehicles involved
•  Weather and/or traffic conditions

Also, it is important to relay information about the other party/parties involved. As many details

about the other party you can possibly obtain will be of great assistance moving forward with

any potential claim for property damage and/or bodily injury. For example, helpful information

to obtain and communicate to your insurance company includes:

•  Other driver’s name
•  Information from a driver’s license, such as driver’s license number and address
•  Telephone numbers
•  License plate numbers
•  Insurance information (provider, policy number, etc.)
•  Vehicle information (make, model, color, etc.)
•  Which law enforcement agency responded to the scene

What You Shouldn’t Say

 Anything . . . at least immediately after the accident

Car accidents are often very disorienting, confusing, and upsetting ordeals. As such, discussing

the accident with your insurance company immediately after the fact is not in your best interest.

First, you should make sure that everyone is O.K. and seek any appropriate medical treatment.

 Confess fault or offer unnecessary apologies

Again, it is important not to lie. The better approach when asked about the accident is to simply

describe the accident in matter of fact terms without including personal opinions and avoiding

saying too much.

 State that you are uninjured

Many injuries are not immediately noticeable or readily apparent. For example, some types of

injuries may not manifest themselves or be observable until days later (such as with bruising

and/or aches).

Contact Us Today!

If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having been involved in an automobile

accident, you should contact us at Rankin & Rankin as soon as possible so that we can put our

knowledge and experience in this area to work for you. Schedule your FREE CASE

EVALUATION by calling 843-248- 2405 or by filling out the form below.

Rankin and Rankin Law Firm is located in Conway, South Carolina and serves the entire

Lowcountry area including Horry County, Myrtle Beach, Georgetown, Charleston, and Hilton

Head, SC.