What To Do When The Other Driver Lies About The Cause Of The Accident
When you are in a car accident that was not your fault -- but the other driver lies to the police and insurance company about what happened -- it is normal to be scared and frustrated. You may fear that your own insurance may have to cover the claim, resulting in an increase in rates, and the need to pay your deductible. It's sad that this can happen when someone else lies. While there is no way to completely guarantee that the truth will come out and the insurance companies will make the right decision, there are some things you can do to increase the chances of this happening:
Contact a lawyer.
Once you submit your explanation of the accident and the other driver submits theirs, the insurance companies will soon realize they're not the same -- and they'll quickly begin "arguing" over who is responsible and which story is correct. If you say the wrong thing when they contact you to ask questions, you could accidentally make things worse. So, it's best to hire a car accident lawyer as soon as you realize the other driver is going to fight this. Let your lawyer handle all communications with the insurance company.
Collect evidence.
If you and your lawyer can provide solid proof that your story is the right one, the insurance company will have no choice but to name the other driver liable. This proof can come in many forms. Maybe there were witnesses who saw the accident and are willing to submit statements attesting to the fact that your story is the true one? Perhaps there is a video camera at the traffic light and the town will release the footage to your insurance company. Your lawyer may be able to help you think of other options.
Take them to court.
If the insurance company does end up deciding that the accident was your fault, you can always take the other driver to civil court and sue them for damages. Your lawyer will tell you whether or not you have a good enough case to make this worthwhile. If it's only a question of a few hundred dollars, it may not be worth your while to go through the entire lawsuit process. On the other hand, if there are thousands of dollars in medical costs involved, you should do all you can to ensure the truly responsible party pays what they owe.
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