📲 The Text You Should Never Send After a Car Accident
📲 The Text You Should Never Send After a Car Accident
Car accidents are stressful, disorienting, and often emotional. Your adrenaline is pumping, your hands might be shaking, and your first instinct is to reach for your phone.
But here’s the truth: what you say in the minutes after a crash could hurt your case more than the accident itself.
At Shocklee Paolino Personal Injury Law, we’ve seen it happen too many times. A well-meaning text or message gets twisted and used against our clients by insurance companies looking for any reason to deny or reduce a claim.
Let’s break down the one message you should never send—and what to do instead.
🛑 The One Text That Could Cost You Thousands:
“I’m so sorry. This was all my fault.”
You may be trying to be kind, polite, or even just calm the other person down. But that text? It sounds like an admission of fault.
And in Florida—a state that follows a modified comparative negligence rule—that kind of message can come back to haunt you. Even if you were only partially responsible, your compensation could be reduced based on your words alone.
📱 What Not to Say Over Text or DM:
- “I didn’t see you.”
- “I was distracted.”
- “It happened so fast, I think I caused it.”
- “I feel fine!” (You may not know the full extent of your injuries yet.)
Even saying you’re “okay” can lead insurance companies to downplay your injuries later.
✉️ What You Can Say:
Keep it brief. Stick to the facts. If you’re texting loved ones or coworkers:
- “I was just in a car accident. I’m safe, but shaken up.”
- “I’ll update you after I get checked out.”
- “Calling my attorney now.”
When speaking with anyone else—especially the other driver, witnesses, or insurers—less is more.
🤔 Why Does It Matter?
Texts, social media messages, and even your private DMs can be requested as evidence during a legal case. If your words contradict what your attorney argues later, you risk weakening or losing your claim.
Think of your phone as a legal document waiting to happen.
✉️ Hurt in a Car Accident? Don’t Text Through It. Talk to Us.
Before you message anyone—before you even post on social media—talk to a lawyer.
At Shocklee Paolino Personal Injury Law, we know how fast things move after a crash. We’ll guide you through what to say, what not to say, and how to protect your rights from Day 1.
📞 Call or message us now for a free consultation.
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