Tackling Questions from an Insurance Company Post Car Accident –

Insurance companies, like most money-making organizations, are also after maximizing profit. Therefore, they can grill you with serious questions that you will find hard to answer after an accident.

To prevent getting the value of your claim from being minimized, you might need to get a personal injury lawyer. They will help you care for your claims and not devalue them.

What if an Insurance Company Calls?

You are not obliged to respond to any insurance company. You can prevent unpleasant situations by simply referring them to your lawyer. However, if you choose to speak to them, be careful with the information you give them. They are just looking for ways to use the information you give them against you.

How to Answer Questions From Insurance Companies

Questions from insurance companies can look harmless. However, if you divulge too much, you could get your claim minimized. Here are some tips that can help you avoid the tricks of insurance companies:

1. Do not tell them the gravity of your injuries. Rather, tell them that your lawyer will get to them or simply tell them that you are receiving medical attention.
2. Do not give more information than what is asked. Simply answer the questions asked as minimally as possible.
3. Reject any recording or attempt to record your statement. Any recorded evidence can be used against you.
4. Do not give your opinion about anything. Stick with narrating only what happened.
5. Document the adjuster’s name and contact information for future reference. You can never tell how useful the information will be later.
6. Be sure of your answers. Say you do not know the answer if you are unsure what it is.
7. Jot down your conversation. Ensure you take down what questions you answered and your answers to them. This can help your lawyer to prepare ahead.
8. Be truthful. Do not provide any untrue information or exaggerate the facts.

Tricks Insurers May Employ to Minimize Your Claim

Some things insurers do may seem harmless. However, in the long run, they are not so harmless after all. Some of these include:

Requesting for a Recorded Statement

You might be told that giving a recorded statement will hasten the process. If later evidence contradicts your recorded statement, it will affect you. Aside from this, your recorded statement may not give a full account of what happened, which may devalue your claim.

Requesting That You Sign a Medical Release Authorization

You might be told that this is necessary to access your medical records; however, it can be detrimental to you. The insurance company can get medical records unrelated to the accident. You might be denied your claim based on conditions that existed beforehand.

Convincing You a Lawyer Is Not Needed

“Insurance companies are smart enough to know that once a lawyer is involved, they might have to part with more than they want to,” says Attorney Lawrence Buckfire of Buckfire Law. As a result, they can try to tell you that hiring a lawyer is unnecessary. Do not fall for this trick. They are experienced and know the ins and outs of situations like this.

You need an equally experienced legal practitioner to help you out. Do not be bought by the convincing arguments of the adjuster. Research has shown that accident victims who use lawyers receive more compensation than those who decide to do it themselves.

Conclusion

If an insurance company has contacted you, research and find a good legal company to represent you.

Related