What Not to Say When Talking to an Insurance Company About a Car Crash
After a car accident, you may need the assistance of your own auto insurance provider or possibly the opposing sides auto insurer in order to pay for your medical bills and repair or replace your car. This means that you will likely have to speak with one or more insurance adjusters. Before you go ahead and pick up the phone, there are a few things you should keep in mind. For starters, there are typically two types of insurance adjusters you may have to deal with after a car accident. The first type is a usually an adjuster who works for your own auto insurance provider. The second type is a third-party adjuster and this type of adjuster usually works for the opposing sides insurance provider. While most insurance adjusters are friendly, any conversations with an insurance adjuster should be strategic. Remember, insurance adjusters are trained to extract as much information as possible from you and make no mistake, their job is to protect the insurance companies’ finances and ultimately find any potential reasons to deny coverage. What you say after
a car accident, both at the scene and during the insurance claims process can have a huge effect on your personal injury claim. While many clients may believe they have a good general understanding of the laws that pertain to car accidents, most have no idea how to deal with the tactics utilized by insurance adjusters when asking questions after a crash. In this blog post, we will share some tips and guidance on what not to say to an insurance adjuster after a car crash.
What Not to Say When Talking to An Insurance Company About a Car Crash:
Don’t Admit Fault: Please prevent yourself from mistakenly admitting fault for the crash. As you describe the circumstances surrounding the accident, try to do so without adding in your own personal opinions. Leave that to the insurance companies. Even if you think you are partially at fault, the other driver may have also contributed to the car accident and also be at fault. Don’t make an admission of fault in front of the other driver, law enforcement or your insurance company as these statements may later be used against you.
Don’t speculate: If you find yourself saying something along the lines of “I think” or “he/she was probably” you’re probably making a guess, or you may not know the answer at all. After a car crash, you will be asked many questions from police officers, adjusters, attorneys, etc. If you don’t know the answer to a question that you’re asked, just say that you don’t know. It is important to avoid pure speculation or approximation when speaking with anyone after an accident, especially insurance adjusters. False or incorrect information may harm your insurance claim or may cast some doubt on your version of the events.
Don’t provide specifics on the extent of your injuries: Auto insurance companies are mostly concerned in obtaining information that gives them a basis for potentially denying your claim later on or minimizing the amount that they will have to pay out on your claim. As a result, the less you share the better. For example, you can anticipate all insurance adjusters to ask about the cause of the accident, the types of cars involved, and any other important particulars about the other driver or passengers as well as any passengers in your own vehicle, location of the accident etc. It is okay to provide some basic factual info, but it is better to wait until you have had some time to cool down and possibly speak with a lawyer.
Don’t accept the first settlement offer you get: Most opening settlement offers from auto insurers are low ball offers. While your medical bills may be accumulating and, in some cases, you may be out of work due to your injury, you may feel tempted to accept a quick settlement offer from your insurance company. Avoid accepting a settlement offer that does not fully compensate you for your injuries. Consider consulting with a personal injury attorney before accepting any offers so that you can have someone advocate on your behalf and negotiate a better deal with your insurance company or the opposing sides insurance company.
Contact our Miami Car Accident Lawyers Today!
The Law Offices of Suarez & Montero Car Accident Lawyers believe that all victims who have been injured by someone else’s negligence deserve to be compensated for their injuries. The Law Offices of Suarez & Montero Car Accident Lawyers represents accident victims injured in various types of accidents. Our skillful attorneys are genuinely committed to our clients. We will fight to make sure that you get the maximum amount of compensation owed to you. Working with a skilled car accident lawyer in Florida can make all the difference in your case. If you have additional questions about your personal injury case, you should contact an experienced Miami car accident attorney today! The attorneys at Suarez & Montero protect your rights, understand how the insurance claims process works and know how to present a strong personal injury claim. We encourage you to reach out so that we can explain more about the different ways that our law firm and attorneys can provide legal help and guidance with your car accident claim. Make an appointment with us at one of our many locations. Our skillful attorneys are genuinely committed to our clients. We will fight to make sure that you get the maximum amount of compensation owed to you. Let us help you get the medical care you need and fight to make sure you are compensated for your injuries! Our attorneys are ready to provide proven legal representation in pursuing your claim and stand ready to protect your rights. We are available 24/7 to give you a free, no risk case consultation.
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