As an “at-fault” state, Oklahoma places insurance liability on the driver who causes an accident. In a perfect scenario, everyone is honest and collaborative, and everything runs smoothly. The driver admits fault, and the victim collects their benefits.
As we all know, this is not a perfect world. People lie to protect themselves. In this article, we will discuss why at-fault drivers fib, ways to protect yourself from dishonest drivers, and what to do when liars have left you without compensation.
WHY DRIVERS LIE
Chances are, the at-fault driver is not a pathological liar. There is motivation behind their dishonesty. When at-fault drivers lie, they are usually protecting themselves.
In an at-fault system, the responsible driver suffers consequences for causing an accident. These consequences are normally financial. At-fault drivers often see their insurance premiums go up. When someone is on a tight budget, a rise in monthly bills disrupts their finances. The driver may be trying to avoid paying higher premiums.
Causing an accident is not illegal. However, if the accident was the result of a crime, the other driver could face serious legal consequences. For example, they may have been driving under the influence. Perhaps they were guilty of reckless driving, which is also a crime. By lying, the driver could be avoiding legal consequences.
PREVENTION AGAINST LYING
Whenever you are in an accident, there are ways to protect yourself from a potential liar. Your first line of defense is to gather as much evidence as you can. Take pictures of everything. Every scrape, dent, crack, and scar – record it. Photograph the other driver’s car, as well. Get a picture of their license plate. If there is surrounding property damage, take images of it. Make sure to get both cars’ positions in the street. Are there tire marks on the road? If so, record them. Every image will tell a story. Pictures will reveal facts and details that can disprove a false narrative.
It is also helpful to call the police. They will take statements from each of you. Many officers are trained to prod people with questions, eventually poking holes in a lie. They also evaluate the crash scene, seeing the positions of the cars and the surrounding damage. If the at-fault driver’s story does not match the physical evidence, police may notice.
After the accident, keep your story consistent. If you must speak with each insurance company, tell them both the same details. You might remember a detail the second time you tell your story that you missed the first time. If so, call the other insurance company and tell them that detail, no matter how small. Most people have difficulty keeping their lies straight. They begin to embellish in one area and lose sight of another. Most likely, the lying driver will have conflicting details each time they spin their yarn. As long as you stick to the facts, your story is going to appear more credible.
WHEN INSURERS BELIEVE THE LIE
You can do everything in your power to defend against a lie, but you can’t predict how others will perceive it. Sadly, there are times when people believe a lie. Otherwise, there would be no reason for dishonesty.
When insurance companies believe the at-fault driver’s falsehoods, call a lawyer. Sometimes, just having a legal professional on your side is effective. Once the dishonest party realizes that there is an attorney on the case, they might crack. They may see how much trouble they are causing and relent.
People, however, can be stubborn. The at-fault driver may stand by their lie no matter what. When this happens, your lawyer can begin investigations. All your gathered evidence coupled with police reports and hospital records can be enough to build a case. Your lawyer can present this evidence to the insurance companies. If necessary, it could be used to take the dishonest driver to court.
If you are being denied compensation that you deserve, call our firm today. We can help fight to get your benefits. Our number is 918-492-7674. You can also contact us online.