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How to Deal with the Insurance Company After an Accident

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in

dealing with insurance adjustersAfter an accident, opening a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company is usually the first step in pursuing compensation for your injuries.

However, be very careful with what you say and do to protect your best interests. Insurance companies actively seek information to use against you to reduce the value of your claim.

Below are several strategies for dealing with an insurance company following an accident. If you need help, please contact us today to schedule a free, no obligation consultation.

Be Careful What You Say to An Adjuster

You will be assigned an insurance adjuster who will work your claim. It is important to remember that the adjuster is not looking out for you. He or she is an agent of the insurance company, working to protect the insurance company’s best interest, which means lowering the amount of your settlement.

Saying the wrong thing when speaking with an adjuster can have a negative impact on your claim. Your claim could be denied or devalued due to your statements to an adjuster.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to help protect the value of your claim when working with an adjuster:

  • Keep calm – It is easy to get frustrated or express anger about the accident and the injuries you sustained, but you need to remain calm when dealing with the insurance adjuster. Maintaining a good attitude with the adjuster may benefit you, getting your claim handled quickly or gaining the adjuster’s trust about elements that are difficult to prove in your claim.
  • Stick to the basics – If you are asked to give a statement, stick to the facts and do not provide more detail than is absolutely necessary. Say where the accident occurred, when it happened and what vehicles were involved.
  • Do not accept the adjuster’s first offer – Insurance companies want to settle your claim quickly and attempt to do so by quickly offering you a settlement. The insurance company is hoping that you will accept their first offer and not hire a lawyer who will likely disagree with the amount of the settlement. The value of this initial offer may not cover all the expenses you will encounter due to the accident.

Statements Not to Make

When talking to a representative of the at-fault party’s insurance company, there are a few things you should not say:

  • Do not apologize for what occurred – Your apology may be misconstrued as you admitting fault for the accident.
  • Avoid opinions – When talking with an insurance adjuster, never speculate or give your opinion as to what happened. Simply relay the facts of the situation, and if you do not know the answer to a question for sure, simply tell the adjuster you do not know.
  • Do not give details of your injuries – Insurance adjusters will want to know the extent of your injuries. However, refrain from giving a detailed description. You may leave something out about your injury or discover an injury later on. A better determination of the severity of your injury can be made from your medical records.

What You Need to Know About the Value of Your Claim

There are many factors that must be considered to determine the fair value for a settlement that accounts for all your past, present and possible future expenses.

An experienced personal injury attorney can help you communicate with the insurance company and ensure your claim is valued properly. Your attorney will consider the following to determine a fair value for your claim:

  • All expenses related to medical treatment
  • Lost wages and lost earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Property damage
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

Contact Our Legal Team for Representation

If you have been injured in an accident, working with a skilled personal injury attorney may be in your best interest. Our Sacramento personal injury lawyers will work to protect your legal rights while maximizing compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Let us deal with the insurance company on your behalf so you can focus on your recovery.

Request a free, no obligation consultation today. There are no upfront fees and payment is only due if we recover compensation for you.

Call (916) 777-7777 or fill out our Free Case Evaluation form now.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.