If you have been injured because of the negligence of someone else then you are likely dealing with an insurance company. Car accidents, slip, and fall accidents and even dog bites can all lead to personal injury cases.
The at-fault insurance company is likely going to want a statement and contact you. They are going to do this very soon after an accident and hope that your guard will be down. You might think that talking to them can get you your compensation faster but this is not a good idea. Any comments you make can be used against you. If an insurance company does call you, it’s always best to speak with a personal injury lawyer at Hanna LawFirm first. 
What Happens When an Insurance Company Contacts You?
The insurance company is going to work hard to avoid paying out any claim in order to keep their profits. When they are speaking with you, they are going to try and get an idea of how much the claim is worth. They are also going to look at ways to limit the amount they will pay or ways they can just deny your claim.
The adjuster is going to act friendly toward you and convince you that they are in fact acting in your best interest. Don’t be fooled because they are not interested in your best interest but instead of the company that employs them, the insurance company. At first, it seems like they just want basic information. They may tell you that they are able to get you some money upfront so you can deal with medical expenses but this is rarely the case.
An insurance company typically won’t offer any preliminary compensation for lost wages or medical bills. The insurance company knows it’s going to be hard for you to think straight, especially when dealing with an injury, and communicating effectively can be difficult.
If you do give a recorded statement, it is going to make a lawyer’s job much harder. It’s hard to dispute any statement, even if it actually includes some inaccuracies. Depending on the nature of the case, you may not get a fair settlement after a statement.Â
Risks of Talking to the Adjusters
Many people don’t have any idea of the tactics that insurance adjusters use until it’s too late and they realize the adjuster is using the information against them. People are naturally going to be inclined to be honest and expect to be treated fairly.
There are a number of legal maneuvers that need to be undertaken before you can receive fair compensation. When you give a statement, later at trial the insurance company may attempt to show you gave an inconsistent statement between the testimony and recorded statement. The lawyer that represents the insurance company can use this contradiction to make the jury question your credibility and then side with the insurance company and not you.
You may think you know the laws related to an accident case and have a good case but this may not be true. There can be plenty of legal pitfalls that can happen. For example, the insurance company may try to get you to sign a medical release form. This form will allow the insurance company the right to receive your medical records. The release is likely broader than necessary. The insurance company uses this information against you in order to deny a claim based on a previous injury or other medical history.Â
Tips for Dealing with Insurance CompaniesÂ
Working with an attorney is best. The lawyer can either speak on your behalf or give you some guidelines about what you should say. Some guidelines include not to tell the adjuster your injuries aren’t that bad, volunteer any information, or guess or speculate what happened. The insurance company wants to pay out as little as they can so if you tell the adjuster your injuries are mild then they will use this against you.
Even if it doesn’t seem that you have serious injuries, it’s possible your condition could later become worse. You may think you are being helpful by giving lots of information but you should only answer questions that you are directly asked. The adjuster wants to get you to commit to a particular version of events that suits them the best. What you remember about the accident could change in the few days after talking to them.Â
Working with a Lawyer
You may think that you can’t afford a lawyer in a personal injury case but many lawyers can take you on as a client on a contingency basis. The insurance company has attorneys and adjusters on their side and you shouldn’t be unrepresented. Even if it seems like it can be easy to settle your claim without a lawyer, it could turn out to be more complicated than you think. In order to ensure you have the best chance of getting compensation, you should consult with a lawyer before speaking with insurance companies.Â
HussaiN is a full-time professional blogger from India. He is passionate about content writing, tech enthusiasts, and computer technologies. Apart from content writing on the internet, he likes reading various tech magazines and several other blogs on the internet. Email ID: [email protected]
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