Even if you want to say “I'm sorry you're late for work or “I'm sorry you're hurt, try to avoid using the words “I'm sorry. Avoid speculating or approximating your answers. False information may damage your claim or make your account of events appear inaccurate. If you are unsure of the answer to a question, say, “I don't know” and leave your answer like this.
Insurance agreements after car accidents are almost entirely based on injuries sustained in the accident. However, many injuries that are common in collisions do not manifest immediately. For example, whiplash, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other invisible injuries could appear days or even weeks after the incident. Guilt admissions include saying things like, “I didn't see you or you came out of nowhere.” Don't admit that you looked away from the road, ignored road signs, or did anything else that could imply that you were at fault for the accident.
When someone you know has been in a car accident, it can be difficult to know what “is right” to help them feel better. They may be in pain and may be stressing out about how to put their lives back together. Many victims of car accidents are happy to be alive. Anyone in a car accident will need time to discuss how they feel.
Even if it's well-intentioned, it's important to avoid phrases that suggest your loved one should feel differently than they do. It's not possible to just “stop being sad” or get over it. Telling them to cheer up right after an accident can interfere with their healing process. If you are traveling at the time of the accident, you can send a postcard that says you want to follow up.
You can also send a “Get Well” card or write a letter. If you are still not sure what to say to someone who had an accident, this will give you more time to sort out your thoughts. You can include a photograph, drawing or stickers. After a car accident, you should remove the word “sorry” from your vocabulary.
The fact is that the simple act of telling someone you're sorry could be taken as an admission of your guilt and used against you in the future. Don't say you're OK. Even though the other driver may be excited or worried, try not to reassure him or her that he or she is OK. It may seem like a callus, but for your legal protection, you don't want to make any uninformed judgments at the moment when tensions are high.
Tell them you'll talk to professionals who can help both of them. That's the most you can do, and the rest should be left to legal representatives, insurance companies and medical professionals.
