The time right after a car wreck can be a confusing and stressful mess. You might be dealing with injuries, a wrecked car, missing work, and the insurance claim. While it's easy to let your guard down at this time, you must remember to use extreme caution when speaking to anyone about the wreck, especially the insurance adjuster. Read on to learn more.
Talking to your own insurance adjuster
Most people don't really take the time to read all that small print that comes with their auto insurance policy, but if you did you might find some surprising rules. One of those rules is the imperative that you give your insurance adjuster permission to record during a call if you are in an accident, regardless of whose fault it might be. Although you will have to comply at some point, that doesn't mean that you cannot use some precautions and prepare for the call. Here are some tips for dealing with this call.
1. If you have a personal injury attorney (and you should), consult with them and allow them to handle the call.
2. Set up a time that is convenient for you and that gives you plenty of time to prepare.
3. Gather your documents: the insurance information for both parties, the accident or police report, your medical bills and anything else you have. If you have photos of the accident, take a look at those. Review the events of the day that led up to the accident and refresh your memory of the event.
4. Don't allow the adjuster's open-ended questions to get you rambling on. Answer the question only, saying as little as possible and sticking just to the facts as you know them. Don't speculate and don't admit guilt.
5. If you are unsure of an answer to a question, let the adjuster know that you don't know. It's better to do this than to misspeak and regret it later.
Talking to the other guy's insurance adjuster
You may get a call from the at-fault driver's adjuster before you get one from your own insurance, but be advised that you should not speak to them. There is absolutely no requirement for you to speak to this adjuster, regardless of what they might tell you. Your best course of action is to make an appointment to speak with them later, and then consult with a personal injury attorney right away.
If you get tricked into speaking, you may do real harm to your case without really understanding why. Liability and compensation are confusing and complicated issues, so allow your attorney to take the lead and to ensure that you get every bit of the compensation you are entitled to get.
For more information, contact an attorney, such as those at Bob Fain Law.
Share29 January 2018
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