How Can You Sue Someone for Lying About a Car Accident? 8 Ways

Car accidents surely force involved persons to experience trauma dealing with physical, emotional, and financial issues. Most importantly, the at-fault driver faces financial obligations to pay for the recovery of the damages. And to restrict such losses, many of them state lies, rejecting their responsibility. It makes the situation more complex and difficult to resolve.

In this case, there is only one available resolution: a legal decision from the court. But can you sue someone for lying about a car accident? The answer is yes, and in this article, we are going to explore the legal framework, the potential consequences of lying, and what you can do.

Why At-Fault Driver Lies About a Car Accident?

There are various reasons that make the responsible driver tell lies about the happenings in an accident.

1. By realizing the possible legal consequences, the responsible person may come up with lies. To avoid fines, license suspension, or imprisonment, they may make a false statement to avoid liability for the accident.
2. An at-fault driver may make a false statement intentionally about the accident to limit damage to their reputation, social status, or public image. For instance, if the at-fault driver is a public figure (a celebrity, politician, or high-profile professional), he or she may not want to reveal his or her irresponsible attitude.
3. According to the insurance company’s policy, if the at-fault driver is responsible for the accident, the respective insurance premiums will increase. To restrict such, one can tell lies.
4. In some cases, especially those in which teenagers are involved, the at-fault driver may not know the legal issues related to a car accident. And may come up with some unintentional lies.

Related Article: Can Someone Sue You for a Car Accident if You Have Insurance?

Why You Have to Sue The At-Fault Driver for Telling Lies?

If you ask can you sue someone for lying about a car accident, the answer is yes. You must file a legal complaint; otherwise, you will receive the below outcomes.

1. Accountability Issue

If the at-fault driver is telling lies that he or she is not responsible for the accident (in actuality, he or she is), you become the responsible party. And it is totally illogical. If you don’t sue, you will receive the following:

• You have to bear the opposition’s recovery costs.
• Your insurance premium will be increased.
• Your social status will get worse.
• You are just giving opportunities to a liar; it is an ethical violation.
• The driving license may be suspended.

2. Financial Issues

As you are not suing the real responsible party for the wrong statement, you are going to place yourself in the at-fault position. So, you have to pay for the recovery costs of the opposition along with the repair costs of your own vehicle. Without legal action, you become responsible for paying for medical bills, property damage, and other expenses for both parties (You and the negligent driver).

3. Social Issues

By not taking legal action against a driver who is lying, you are just sending the wrong message to others. It indicates that this behavior is tolerable, encouraging others to tell lies to deny their responsibility in car accidents. This is how you are actually ignoring your social responsibility and dragging other people into the falsified situation.

4. Ethical Issues

The lying of the at-fault driver is a direct threat to the country’s legal system, and you are supporting this. Here, your act is considered more than an ethical violation, creating questions regarding your respect for the nation’s laws and regulations.

What to Do if the At-Fault Driver is Telling Lies?

As the answer is yes to the question of can you sue someone for lying about a car accident, you may wonder about to-do-related questions. Here, we detail the process in a step-by-step manner.

Step 01: Documenting Evidence

Start your journey to get justice by gathering evidence to back up your true statement. The evidence may include photos of the accident scene, statements of eyewitnesses, police reports, medical records (if you have received injuries), etc. Try to collect as much evidence as possible to strengthen your position.

Step 02: Hire an Attorney

As you know that the at-fault driver’s lie will make you lose money, reputation, ethics, etc., you have now decided to file a legal complaint against the opposite driver. Consult your case with an experienced car lawyer. Explain your and the responsible driver’s positions, along with the untruth segments. Provide him or her with the collected evidence.

Step 03: Notify the Insurance Company

With the assistance of a lawyer, contact your insurance company. Inform them that the other party is telling lies and you are going to file a case. This will restrict your insurance company to pay any amount to the opposite party or the respective insurance company.

Step 04: Check for Furtur Investigation

As you are sure that you are not responsible for the accident and the other driver is lying about it, look out for a further investigation of what actually happened. You may hire a private investigator to collect more evidence to support your case.

Step 05: Try a Negotiation

Before filing the court case, take your lawyer’s assistance to try for a settlement. Here, your lawyer is responsible for contacting the at-fault driver or the opposition lawyer to generate common ground.

Step 06: File a Court Case

If negotiation with the at-fault driver is unsuccessful, file a lawsuit. Your lawyer will do the necessary procedures. You just follow his or her guidance.

Final Thoughts

Finally, if the at-fault driver is lying, the answer to can you sue someone for lying about a car accident is a definite “Yes.” However, it’s essential to gather sufficient evidence and seek legal advice to determine the best course of action. 

There is also one more thing we would like to mention here. You must not ignore any hearing dates. If you do not attend court as scheduled, this act will weaken your case. Lastly, by taking the right steps, you can protect your rights and ensure that justice is served.

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