You thought things could not get any worse when you got injured in a car accident that was someone else’s fault. Then, things managed to take a turn for the worse, when the at-fault driver lied to the insurance company. As shocking as it might sound, people often lie to try to get out of getting held accountable for the consequences of their careless conduct.
You are probably wondering what you can do if the at-fault driver lied to the insurance company. Will you have to pay your losses and theirs? Illinois law does not force you to work with a lawyer on your injury claim, but with so much at stake, working with a Chicago personal injury attorney could be a smart decision.
Things At-Fault Drivers Lie About to the Police or Insurance Company
If the negligent driver was doing something that could cause them to get a ticket, get points on their license which could then get suspended or revoked, or get arrested, they might feel they had no choice but to try to lie their way out of the situation. Of course, when they talk to the insurance company, they usually tell the same lies to keep their story consistent.
So, how can you make sure the police and insurance company know the truth? Your first step is to tell your story, the truth, clearly and consistently. Also, get a copy of the police report and go over it with your personal injury attorney.
Sometimes, a police report will include both sides of the story as well as the decision of the officer who came to the scene. Often, it will be obvious that the at-fault driver was trying to lie their way out of liability simply because the crash could not possibly have happened the way they said it did. The police are used to having people tell them lies, and then the officer has to sort out what actually happened. They get pretty good at reading body language and evaluating the scene of the accident.
Investigation
The insurance company will conduct its own investigation of the accident, particularly if there is a dispute as to the facts. Your attorney will also conduct an investigation of the accident and look for evidence that backs up your version of what happened.
If there were severe injuries or some other justification for the expense, your lawyer might hire an accident reconstruction expert. The accident reconstruction expert will go to the scene, take photographs and measurements, and perform calculations to prove what actually happened and who was at fault.
When someone lies to an insurance company, they could face charges of insurance fraud. The stronger your evidence is of the truth, the more likely the at-fault driver will recant and admit fault eventually. If not, a judge could decide who is more credible and which evidence is strongest.
Our Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help
You do not want to go through this experience by yourself. A car accident injury claim is challenging enough without having to deal with someone lying about the facts. The Chicago personal injury attorneys of Hale & Monico can fight your battles and help you go after the compensation you deserve from the at-fault driver. Contact our office today for a free initial consultation.