If you have been in an auto accident, you need to make sure that you say and do the right thing afterwards. Saying the wrong thing can not only jeopardize your claim, but it might also allow a claim to be brought against you! Here are five things that you should avoid saying after an accident.

“I believe,” or “I guess…”

Do not guess anything relating to your case. Insurance companies can take this information and use it to limit their payout. They can also use sentences like ‘I guess’ to say that you have agreed with their suggestions about the case, even if you don’t really feel that way.

“It might have,” “I shouldn’t have.” “Guilty” or “I’m sorry about”

These sentences all imply fault or suggest that you did something wrong. Do not try to come up with an explanation for the incident; leave this to the professionals instead. If you say anything that suggests that you may have been at fault, then you might find that the insurance company refuses to pay you.

“I’m uninjured,” or “I’m fine.”

Although you may not feel any pain at that very moment or see any visible injuries at the time of the accident, this does not mean that you are fine. Some injuries take a while to present themselves, so you might start to feel the effects of your crash a few weeks later!

“I’m willing to accept your offer.”

An insurance company is likely to make you a low-ball offer in the first instance, because it is not good business sense for them to make high pay outs. If you accept their first offer, you will not be able to go back and ask for more.

“I do not have an attorney.”

If you admit that you do not have an attorney, the insurance companies will see you as a soft touch. They are likely to try to offer you a low settlement and take advantage of you in other ways. If you have been involved in an accident and you want to make a claim, then get an attorney.