Tips for Communicating With Insurance Companies After an Accident
What You Say Could Put Your Car Accident Case at Risk
Heart-to-Heart Talk. Consult an attorney before you talk to an insurance adjuster or insurance company. If you have been contacted by an insurance company following an accident, it is in your best interest to call a trusted attorney as soon as possible. It costs you nothing to speak to an attorney from Glotzer & Kobren, P.A. Call us anytime at 561-361-8677.
The more information you give to an insurance representative, the higher the risk you will say something to jeopardize your claim and reduce your compensation. For example, when a police report is sent to an insurance company following an accident, the insurer may engage in double-talk and misinformation in order to get you to sign a release for a relatively small amount of money. The insurance company couldn’t possibly know at that stage what are your injuries, treatment plans, and expenses. This would mean your injury claim was settled regardless of what injuries you may have sustained, whether you realize it or not. That soon after an accident, there is no way YOU or an insurance company could know what your injuries, required medical treatment, and expenses will be so you are unable to determine if their offer is fair or not.
Look Who’s Talking. The best way to protect your legal rights is to contact an attorney immediately after a car accident. When you are represented by an accident lawyer, the insurance company no longer deals with you directly. Instead they communicate through your lawyer. Let your personal injury lawyer do the talking and secure full compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages.
Insurance companies are focused on their bottom line. They have powerful financial incentives to make sure you receive as little money as possible for your claim. No matter how friendly an insurer seems, their job is to minimize the value of your claim. That’s why you have to be cautious and careful of what you say when speaking to an insurance company. From the moment you file a claim, the insurance adjuster begins evaluating reasons to deny or devalue your accident claim.
Talk of the Town. Insurers may demand information to “evaluate” your claim and want you to fill out mountains of forms, provide sensitive information, and give recorded statements. They may do this to shift blame to the accident victim; allege that the policy doesn’t cover your injuries; or offer an early, low-ball settlement to reduce the risk of paying out a larger settlement or jury verdict later on. You don’t have to fight the insurance company on your own — our lawyers take care of all communications, litigation, negotiations, and the claims process.
To protect your interests, it is crucial to let your lawyer handle communication and negotiation with an insurance company. Our personal injury lawyers represent accident victims throughout Florida. We have dedicated our legal practice to fighting for the rights of accident victims. Call us at 561-361-8677 to discuss your case.
