This post was published on May 2, 2017 and updated on November 16, 2020. 

We’ve all been there. Well, maybe not all of us, but many of us. Your first car accident. Many times, car accidents are not life-threatening and, when you are far enough removed to look back without stress and anxiety, can be quite entertaining to talk about. This is especially true when you have been given a fantastically out-of-this-world ridiculous excuse from the other driver.

But it’s not just them, we’ve likely given a terrible excuse for causing a car accident as well. The fact is, sometimes, especially in moments of high stress like that, we all tend to say or do things that in hindsight are really quite silly.

On that note, what follows are some of the best car accident excuses ever recorded by and collected by law enforcement and insurance companies.

1. The Invisible Car

Now, there are cars that speed so fast down the highway that they are a virtual blur as they blast past us, but invisible? Unlikely. Imagine, then, an officer’s surprise when an excuse given was “An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my vehicle, and vanished.” (Abraham Maslow)

There are so many things wrong with this excuse that it’s hard to know where to begin. An invisible car is impossible. An invisible car that vanishes? Wow. Sometimes it may feel like the car came out of nowhere, but please do not use this as an excuse for causing a car accident.

2. Stationary Truck

We aren’t sure if the person giving this excuse was traveling alone or if that naked lady in the backseat was there the entire time. But this young woman was traveling a naked lady in the back seat of her car. Everything was fine and dandy until the naked passenger apparently let out a moan. Of course, the driver had to see what was going on and as she turned around to look, she flew through a red light and into traffic causing the accident. Was the naked lady really there? We are still unsure.

3. The Moving Telephone Pole

Another great excuse if there ever was one. “The telephone pole was approaching fast. I was attempting to swerve out of its path when it struck my front end.” Hmm. Never mind that telephone poles don’t move, let alone approach fast, but the excuse is simply unbelievable. (ECI)

4. The Pedestrian

It can be extraordinarily traumatic to hit a pedestrian. There are a variety of excuses that come to mind if someone is trying to place the blame elsewhere. The man wasn’t in the crosswalk. She was wearing all black at night. One of the excuses that doesn’t immediately come to mind is “The pedestrian hit me and went under my car.” What kind of person hits a car and travels under it on purpose? That’s unheard of and no Tampa pedestrian accident lawyer would be able to even defend that kind of excuse for casing a car accident. (Lampton Eagle)

5. Legally Parked

It seems as though it would be common sense that to have a collision with another car, you would have to be moving. It also stands to reason that you would have to be backing up to back into a car. Why then, did someone think telling the police that they were legally parked when their car backed into another vehicle was a good idea? What a weird excuse for causing a car accident.

6. The Wrong House

Most of us have pulled into the wrong driveway because we have been preoccupied. We may even have struck a mailbox or hit a garbage can. Who knows? One person told police that they were coming home, drove into the wrong house, and collided with a tree that wasn’t theirs. Well, of course, the tree wasn’t theirs… it wasn’t even their house.

7. Small Man

It’s not unusual for people to tell police that they don’t know why they were involved in an accident. Whether it is due to distraction or simple inattention, people have been involved in accidents before they even knew what happened. If you are going to tell police that you don’t know what caused the accident, it’s best to not even try to come up with the indirect cause of the accident like one person did. “The indirect cause of this accident was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth.” Road rage? (Radford)

Never, and we mean never, engage in road rage, and never use it as an excuse for causing a car accident.

8. Rear End Trouble

We aren’t sure about this one. Either someone was really having problems with their vehicle or they were trying to tell the police officer that they were having tummy troubles. In either case…”I was on the way to the doctor with rear end trouble when my universal joint gave way causing me to have an accident.” This excuse can be interpreted in so many different ways that it’s best we just let it be. (MIT)

9. Give it Gas

We have all been in near misses. We may even have been in accidents that we did our best to avoid. Telling the police that you did the exact opposite of what you should have done probably isn’t the best idea. “When I could not avoid a collision, I stepped on the gas and crashed into the other car.” That’s one way to take care of it. (Daily Entertainment)

10. Surprise Stop Sign

It can be tough to get used to a new stop sign when it’s put in, especially when you frequently drive through that intersection. To tell police that a stop sign appeared right before your eyes, however, is a bit of a stretch. “As I approached the intersection, a stop sign suddenly appeared in a place where no stop sign had ever appeared before. I was unable to stop in time to avoid the accident.” Just a tip: Stop signs don’t jump in and out of place on their own. (Canyon.edu)

Saying Less is ALWAYS Smarter

You’ve heard the Miranda Rights in movies, right? It’s usually the speech given to criminals as they are arrested. It goes like this:

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you? With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?”

Remember that anything you say CAN AND WILL be used AGAINST you. Nothing you say can be used to help you, but it can be used against you. That is an important little piece of law that you should remember before you willingly give your excuse for causing a car accident.

Do not talk more than you have to, and when in doubt, call a Tampa car accident lawyer first.

There’s a famous, and humorous lecture given by Regent Law Professor James Duane who says that we should all always exercise our 5th Amendment rights when questioned by government officials.

If you are ever unsure about why you should not always talk openly to the police, this video will help you understand.

Have you ever been involved in an accident and heard one of these types of ridiculous excuses from the other driver? Hopefully, you haven’t been the driver that gave an excuse like what you just read. If you aren’t sure what to say after an accident, you are better off just not saying anything at all. When in doubt, stay quiet. If you don’t say anything, nothing can be used against you later should you be forced to appear in court.

If you have been involved in a car accident in Miami or the surrounding area, you may be entitled to compensation depending on the details of your incident. Call our office today and let one of our team members provide you with a free case evaluation. We have years of experience in auto accident litigation and are ready to put their knowledge to use as we stand up for your rights in court. Contact an injury lawyer or browse our website for more information about our firm and how we can assist you. And remember, don’t give a silly excuse for causing a car accident.