After a car crash, you may be dealing with your insurance company more than you ever have before. It’s important to know how to handle yourself and what to expect from the process in order to get the most out of your claim. Here are some tips on how to deal with your insurance company after a car crash.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Many people don’t realize that they have a limited amount of time to report an accident to their insurance company. Failing to report the accident in a timely manner could result in your insurance company denying your claim. Make sure you have all of the necessary information before you call your insurance company. You will need to provide your policy number, the date and time of the accident, the names of all drivers involved, and the license plate numbers of all vehicles involved. Be prepared to also provide a description of the accident.
Try to be as specific as possible, and include information such as what type of accident it was (e.g. rear-end collision), where the accident took place, and the severity of the damage. If there were any injuries involved, be sure to mention that as well. After you’ve reported the accident, your insurance company will likely want to send an adjuster to assess the damage. Be sure to cooperate with the adjuster, and provide any documentation or evidence that he or she requests.
Contact Your Attorney
After a car crash, it is important to contact an attorney right away. Your insurance company may try to take advantage of you in the aftermath of the accident, so it is important to have someone on your side who knows the law and can advocate for your rights. An experienced attorney will be able to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and get you the compensation you deserve. You should explain in detail the accident including the causes of serious injury you sustain at the event. Your Attorney will also help you to prove that the other driver was at fault and responsible for the accident. Contacting an attorney as soon as possible after a car crash is the best way to protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve.
Keep Track of All Expenses Related to the Accident
If you are involved in a car accident, it is important to keep track of all expenses related to the accident. This includes medical expenses, property damage, and loss of income. It is also important to document any conversations you have with your insurance company. If you are injured in a car accident, you may have to miss work and incur medical expenses. You may also have property damage, such as your car being totaled. If you have any of these expenses, you should keep track of them so that you can be compensated for them by your insurance company.
You should also document any conversations you have with your insurance company. This includes recording the date, time, and name of the person you spoke with. This will help you if there is a dispute about the claim. If you are injured, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Be Very Careful of the Documents you are Asked to Sign
Don’t sign any documents from the insurance company until you’ve talked to a lawyer. The insurance company will often try and get you to sign away your rights with a release form or by agreeing to a low settlement. Don’t let them take advantage of you. They will likely ask you to sign a release form giving them permission to access your medical records and speak to your doctor. You should be very careful about signing this form. The reason why is because if you have any injuries that require ongoing treatment or have not yet reached maximum medical improvement, the insurance company will use this release form to try and low-ball you on your settlement. If you haven’t yet decided whether or not to hire a lawyer, you may want to wait to sign this form until after you’ve consulted with one.
Another common request from insurance companies is for you to give a recorded statement. Again, you should be very careful about doing this. The reason is that the insurance company will use the statement to try and build a case against you and minimize their financial liability. Instead, you should wait until you have talked to a lawyer and they have advised you on what to say.
After a car crash, it is important to take action to protect your rights. This includes reporting the accident to the insurance company, keeping track of all expenses related to the accident, and contacting an attorney. It is also important to be very careful about the documents you sign from the insurance company. An experienced lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.
