Can You Sue Someone for Lying About a Car Accident? | Auto Accident Lawyers
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, it’s likely that you’re considering whether you can actually sue someone for causing the accident. This might seem straightforward at first glance, but in reality, many defendants are “shady.” They hide information, twist the facts, and lie outright. So, can you sue someone for lying about the facts in a car accident case?
This can be extremely frustrating, as you might have already felt confused and overwhelmed by the prospect of a lawsuit. With the defendant lying about the car accident, it may feel like the case has become even more complicated. This isn’t an unreasonable reaction. After all, conflicting stories in a car accident requires a bit of extra work. Proving the “truth” isn’t always easy.
Fear not! Experienced attorneys can help. Defendants lie relatively often, so there are strategic tools in place to “suss” out the lies. If you’d like to learn more before speaking to an attorney, let’s explore the basics.
Why Do People Lie About Car Accidents?
Though it may seem like the answer is obvious, it’s important to break this down: why do people lie about car accidents?
At a basic level, defendants lie to avoid liability. In a lawsuit, liability can lead to a significant damages payout, so defendants will often do whatever it takes to ensure that the court doesn’t find that they are at-fault. By twisting the factual narrative around the case, the defendant may be attempting to create a new story that paints them in a favorable light.
There are a number of avenues for the defendant to twist the narrative — for example, the defendant could lie to police at the scene of the accident, and those lying statements will be recorded in the police report. In many cases, the defendant isn’t considering the lawsuit when making false statements. When dealing with police, these false statements are made to avoid ticketing, fines, or an arrest.
If you’re trying to sue someone for injuring you in a car accident, this lying can make you feel frustrated, even overwhelmed. After all, you might not know how the defendant’s lies are going to impact your case, and how to counter the lies. Well, don’t worry! Experienced car accident attorneys are very familiar with handling false statements by defendants, and understand how to draft probing investigative questions to reveal the lies.
What if Someone is Lying About a Car Accident? How the Lie Can Impact Your Case.
Okay, so we know that people often lie about the details of a car accident to try and minimize their role in causing it. At this point, it’s not unreasonable to think: can you sue someone for lying?
The answer is no — but that doesn’t mean it isn’t useful. The defendant’s lies can give you a strategic advantage.
See, lying about a car accident doesn’t create a lawsuit by itself. If you can prove that the defendant lied, however, it can “enhance” your case (i.e., easier to undermine the defendant’s narrative, access additional damages, etc.).
In a typical car accident dispute, one of the major challenges is proving that the defendant is liable for your injuries. In other words, proving that they are at-fault. The defendant may attempt to avoid liability by painting a favorable version of the factual narrative. This may include exaggerations and lies.
If you can point out discrepancies, there are two major impacts: 1) the court may determine that the defendant’s conduct is egregious enough to justify bonus punitive damages (which can increase your compensation significantly), and 2) it will be much easier to undermine all other statements made by the defendant, as the court will be less likely to believe them.
Ready to Sue Someone? Call 1-800-THE-LAW2 for a Free Consultation
If you’ve been injured in a car accident — whether or not you believe that the defendant is lying about the facts — you should speak to an experienced attorney about your case.
Call our team at 1-800-THE-LAW2 to connect to a qualified car accident attorney in just 10 minutes or less. Consultation is free and confidential, so there’s really no downside to having a conversation.
We look forward to assisting you.
