ESPANOL
If you are involved in a car accident, a claims adjuster from the other driver’s insurer may reach out to you. They might request a written or oral statement about the accident and the injuries that you suffered. Your first instinct might be to give in to their requests without question. While their request may seem in good faith, it may work against you later on.
They may try to minimize your compensation or even deny your claim altogether. Therefore, it is in your best interest not to speak to the other driver’s insurance company, and you are better off not making any statements.
The Insurance Company May Use Your Words Against You
When an adjuster asks you questions, they may have a particular version of the story and use that story to undervalue or deny your claim. They can even twist your words to their advantage.
If you must provide any information to the other driver’s insurer, it is beneficial to consult a personal injury lawyer first. Your lawyer will help you understand what to say and what not to say to an adjuster. They will even handle all the communication between you and the insurance company on your behalf.
How to Handle Requests from the Other Driver’s Insurance Company
It may be in your best interest to have a lawyer handle your car accident claim. There is a chance that any innocent statement may be turned against you even if you were not at fault for the accident. When you agree to speak to an insurance adjuster, your statement could be used against you in the following ways:
Assign Blame After Admitting Fault
You may apologize for the accident or unknowingly admit to some mistakes as you recount the events that led to the accident. However, insurance adjusters may use those statements as admissions of fault. That becomes grounds for reducing your claim value by assigning you some percentage of fault or denying your claim, pinning all the blame on you.
Look for Inconsistencies in Your Statements
After you provide a recorded statement, adjusters can scour every word for errors and inconsistencies. Driven by their motive, they might take your words out of context and even misconstrue them. A small mistake in your statement could render your word unreliable or dishonest.
Dispute the Severity of Your Injuries
If you disclose any pre-existing conditions to the claims adjuster, they could use that information to argue that your condition caused your injuries. If you downplay your injuries, as many people tend to do, they can use that to reduce the claim’s value.
They may even argue that your injuries aren’t that serious, thus potentially denying you compensation for your damages.
A Lawyer Can Protect You From the Insurance Adjuster’s Questionable Tactics
You may have to speak to your own insurance company. Most likely, your policy contains a clause that requires you to provide a statement if an adjuster from your insurer asks for one. Even if they don’t ask for your report, you will still need to report the accident to your insurer. In that case, just provide them with basic information about the accident, such as:
- The other driver involved
- The other driver’s contact and insurance information
- The day, location, and time of the crash
Just like the other driver’s insurers, your insurer may try to penalize you if you admit fault. So, you may want to consider contacting a law firm before recording any statement with your insurer. In addition to handling communication with them, your attorney can:
- Retrieve a copy of the police report
- Compile evidence to create an effective case file
- Prove the other party’s negligence and liability
- Determine which damages you can recover (e.g., past and future medical bills, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and property damage costs)
- Lead negotiations to secure a fair settlement for you
- Bring your case to a trial
They can take on your case on a contingency-fee basis*, meaning that you will not pay a penny unless we have recovered fair compensation on your behalf.
Call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers Before You Record a Statement
If you were injured in a car accident, George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers can handle all communications between the insurers and other parties on your behalf.
Contact us today to learn how we can support your claim. We will offer a free initial case evaluation.