The Other Guy’s Insurance Company – You’re Not in Good Hands
We all get that warm and fuzzy feeling when car insurance commercials come on television.
A smooth-talking representative assures us that we’re like family (or at least like neighbors) and that they’ll take good care of us.
It’s all good… as long as you’re not trying to make a claim that requires them to compensate you for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Insurance Companies: You’re Not in Good Hands
Soon after your car accident, your phone is going to start ringing.
It’s probably going to be an insurance company – and if it’s your insurance company (and as long as the guilty party wasn’t insured by the same company), it’s probably okay to talk to them.
If it’s the other party’s insurance company, though, let it go to voicemail.
There is no good reason for you to talk to the other party’s insurance company; they’re only interested in saving money, and they’ll do whatever it takes to avoid compensating you for your injuries.
Three Reasons Not to Talk to Insurance Adjusters
After you’ve been in an accident, the last thing you want to do is deal with a stranger trying to wrangle information from you. There are three very good reasons you should never talk to an insurance adjuster:
1. Insurance Adjusters Are Trained to Take Advantage of You
A good insurance adjuster knows how to get you to say something that will preclude their company from paying you a dime.
You’ll be honest about your accident, but the way the questions are worded are designed to get you to slip up – and they’re most likely recording your call so that they can use your own statements against you later.
2. Insurance Adjusters May Want to Invade Your Privacy
It’s pretty common for insurance adjusters to ask you to sign a medical release form so that they can learn about the severity of your injuries.
Do not consent, under any circumstances.
What many insurance adjusters will do is gain access to your entire medical history; once they have it, they’ll comb through every injury you’ve ever had and try to prove that you were already prone to the type of injury you sustained in the accident so that they can avoid paying you.
3. They Don’t Have Your Best Interest at Heart
Insurance adjusters are paid to protect the company they work for, not to ensure that you receive fair compensation.
The less money the insurance company has to pay out for personal injury claims, the higher their bottom line will be – and although the person on the other end of the line seems friendly and compassionate, that’s how they’re trained to be.
Keep Your Lawyer in the Loop
When the other party’s insurance company calls you, make note of the number and save the message; pass it along to your attorney the next time you meet.
It’s almost always best to leave the insurance details to your car accident lawyer, because he has the necessary experience and knows how to handle the questions they have without damaging your case.