Never accept cash after an auto accident

On Behalf of | Feb 15, 2018 | motor vehicle accidents

A drastic number of people in Colorado lose their lives every year as a result of car accident. In 2016 and 2017, over 600 people died each year as a result of other people’s negligence while behind the wheel.

Many more incidents took place where people merely sustained injuries or property damage. Even in these cases, it is paramount to follow proper protocol. You may find yourself in a situation where you become involved in a collision, and the other driver offers you money upfront to sweep this under the rug. Here are the reasons why you should always say, “No.”

There may be invisible damage

It is hard to estimate the cost of repairing damage to your car. The exterior will not show everything, and there may be interior components with significant damage. Do not take a few hundred dollars when the repair costs could end up in the thousands. It may be impossible to get the other driver to give you more money, especially if you neglected to file police and insurance reports.

You may have suffered injuries

People experience rushes of adrenaline after traumatic events. Following a car crash, you may not realize you have extreme pain in your neck or shoulders. You always want a doctor to examine you following a car accident. It is tough to estimate what your medical bills will be, and you will be reliant on your insurance agency to cover most or all of the costs.

The other driver may not have insurance

In most cases, someone will not willingly give up hundreds of dollars without a reason. A common reason why drivers offer cash after an accident is that they lack insurance or have numerous points on their records and do not want to risk license suspension. No matter how much the other driver tries to convince you just to take the cash, play it safe and file an official report.