Wouldn’t it be nice if people started taking responsibility for their errors? I can’t tell you how many clients I’ve represented in auto accidents clearly caused by another driver who changes his story about what happened in the accident. You can get an accident report prepared at the scene by the investigating officer that clearly reflects the negligent driver admitted what he did wrong and even on some occasions has apologized to the injured person. Once their insurance company gets involved all bets are off. The accident is now “under investigation” based on what the insured is now telling his insurance company. The fear of having their liability insurance coverage dropped or rates hiked because of the accident they caused sometimes causes negligent drivers to develop amnesia, a different version of how they said the accident happened to downright lies.
And the negligent insureds are getting “mums the word” advise from their insurers. According to Insure.com, one driver apologizing to the innocent victim is a “huge mistake that can affect the outcome of an insurance claim.” More and more insurers are cautioning their insureds to be careful what they say after a car wreck or when filing an insurance claim. Wonder whatever happened to old “the truth is the best policy” moral we all learned as kids. I guess that’s too old-fashioned for this never-take-the-blame-for-anything generation.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2010
