What if the At-Fault Driver Lies About Their Role in the Accident?
January 23, 2024
After you have been injured in a car accident, you would report the crash to the insurance company. You would give them details of what happened based on your perspective and vantage point. At the same time, the other driver is doing the same with their insurance company. The two stories may be inconsistent with each other. The stakes could not be higher because the case outcome would determine your eligibility for financial compensation and how much you may receive.
Unfortunately, a driver being untruthful is part of many car accident claims. The other driver may realize that they could be responsible for your damages. They know that their insurance premiums will increase, and they may even be able to get money.
Each driver may be telling a side of the story that is diametrically opposite to each other. However, you must do something to break the logjam. You cannot always count on your insurance company to fight for you when determining liability for the accident.
You Must Prove Your Side of the Story
In a car accident case, the focus is not on what you say about what happened. It only counts if you can prove it. The insurance company will not take your word for anything, especially when it may mean they have to pay a lot of money. They will only trust the evidence you put forward that backs up your side of the story.
You would need a lawyer to help you prevail. Your attorney would be able to gather evidence proving you are right. Car accident evidence can consist of:
- Witness testimony from people who saw the accident
- Pictures from the scene of the accident
- The police report, which can be used in an insurance claim but not as proof in court
- Dashcam or traffic camera footage
One of the most crucial pieces of evidence may be testimony from an accident reconstruction expert. Your lawyer may work with a professional who can use math and science principles to show who caused the accident. The other driver may have their lawyer, who has hired their expert, so you cannot afford to be without one.
Filing a Lawsuit
You may end up unsatisfied after the insurance companies determine liability in the accident. They may have concluded that there was not a responsible driver. Alternatively, the other driver’s untruthful story may have led them to decide that you were partially to blame for the accident.
The insurance companies do not have the final word about who was to blame for the accident. If you do not like the results of the claim process, you can file a lawsuit against the other driver in court. An objective jury, without any self-interest, would be the factfinder in your case and decide whether the other driver was to blame. The advantage of a lawsuit is that your lawyer can question the other driver, both in a deposition and in court. Your attorney would ensure your story is heard and protect your legal rights from things like the other driver being untruthful.
Contact Our Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton
Our Baltimore car accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton can represent you after you have been injured in a motor vehicle crash. You can speak with one of our lawyers during a free consultation by calling us at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or by contacting us online.
We have offices in Baltimore, Glen Burnie, Lanham, and Owings Mills, allowing us to represent clients in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.