Don't apologize, don't say "I'm fine," and don't admit fault. Even a polite "I'm so sorry" at the scene can be twisted later into an admission that hurts your claim.
In the minutes after a crash you're rattled, and it's natural to want to smooth things over. But the other driver's insurance company is looking for anything they can use to pay you less. California follows pure comparative fault, which means any share of blame that gets pinned on you reduces what you can recover. So the words you pick matter.
A few things to keep off the record:
- Don't guess about your injuries. Pain from a neck or back injury often shows up hours or days later, so "I'm not hurt" can come back to bite you.
- Don't speculate about how it happened ("I didn't see you," "I was going a little fast"). Just give the facts to police.
- Don't give a recorded statement to the other side's adjuster before talking to a lawyer. You're not required to, and they'll press you for words they can use.
Stick to the basics: exchange information, get medical care, and document the scene. Then let someone else handle the insurance companies. If you were hurt in a car accident or any other crash, Joe Crudo can talk you through your next steps.
This is general information, not legal advice, and every case is different.
Have questions about what happened to you? Call Crudo Law at (858) 622-7280 or reach out through our contact page for a free, confidential consultation.