After you are involved in an accident caused by someone else, you must deal with getting medical treatment and recovering from the injuries you sustained. You also have to find a way to return to work and handle any property damage that may have occurred.
It also requires you to deal with insurance companies that are less than willing to pay you the compensation you deserve. If you find that the insurance company is being uncooperative or if you need help recovering a fair personal injury settlement, our legal team at Fetterman & Associates, PA, is here to help. We know how frustrating it can be to deal with insurance companies, and we will help you get the personal injury claim payouts you are entitled to.
Initial Contact and Communication with the Insurance Company
An important first step to take after you are in an accident is to get in touch with your insurance company. Your policy likely states that you must report the incident or accident within a certain amount of time after it occurs. Your insurer may require specific information about the accident, such as who was involved, the contact information for other drivers (if it is a car accident), the police report (if one is filed), and a statement about what happened.
In a personal injury claim, the insurer aims to pay as little as possible. Because of this, they may confuse you or ask specific questions to get you to say something you may not mean. To help protect yourself and your rights to compensation, you should hire a personal injury lawyer to handle communication with the insurance company. An injury lawyer will fully understand tactics used by insurance companies to try to get you to admit fault in some way or find another reason to pay you less than you deserve. Your attorney will work to ensure that you receive a fair settlement offer, and they can handle the entire personal injury claim process on your behalf.
Important Considerations When Communicating with Your Insurance Adjuster
When you file an accident claim, your insurance company may be your point of contact. While this is true, it doesn’t mean they work for you. The insurance adjuster works for the insurance company. The company (as mentioned above) wants to pay you as little as possible for your personal injury claim. They may try to get a different insurer to cover your damages or pay the least amount possible.
You may have to provide certain information when speaking to an insurance adjuster. This is usually outlined in your policy. You need to ensure you don’t lie about the accident since this may come back and hurt your ability to recover damages after the accident. If you don’t know how to deal with your insurance company or are unsure what you should or should not say, speak to your personal injury lawyer or ask them to communicate with the injury insurance company on your behalf.
Speaking to the Insurance Company for the Other Party
The easiest way to deal with another driver’s insurance company is by referring them to your attorney. After you have done this, you don’t have to speak to them again. Talking to the insurance company can be difficult and may risk your personal injury claim.
Some people believe they can speak to the insurance company because they don’t have anything to hide. They believe that they can get their settlement check sooner if they explain the accident and what happened. However, this rarely happens. Insurance adjusters have many years of experience dealing with lawsuits, claims, and accidents. They may attempt to get you to say something they can use later to reduce how much you are paid. They may also use your statement against you, deny your claim, or make you cover the cost of the other driver’s damages.
Dealing with the Insurance Company After an Accident
As you can see, there are several things to remember when dealing with an insurance company after an accident. It’s best to use the services of an experienced personal injury attorney to achieve the best possible outcome for your case.
At Fetterman & Associates, PA, we can help with your claim. Our team can secure a settlement through personal injury mediation or by going to trial. The first step is to get in touch with our legal team to discuss your claim and create a plan to help you receive the settlement you are entitled to.
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