Statistics show that you will likely get in an accident three times in your lifetime or once every 17 years. Despite the likelihood that one will likely get into an accident at some point in life, there are many misunderstandings about how to deal with insurance post-accident.
Unfortunately, this lack of knowledge about insurance matters results in many victims making mistakes that ruin their chances of fair compensation, such as sharing too much information with the defendant’s insurance company.
You Do Not Have To
You may be obligated to share contact insurance information with a defendant at the accident scene. Your insurer may require that you notify them when you get in an accident, even when you are not at fault. But you are not legally obligated to take or answer questions from the defendant’s insurance company.
However, that will not stop them from calling a few days after an accident. Like other businesses, insurance companies are out to make a profit, so don’t be fooled by their calls. They are not after your well-being.
They are looking for an opportunity to lower the value of your claim. The opportunity could be as simple as answering their questions.
Questions to Avoid
Answering a few questions doesn’t necessarily mean you will ruin your chance of a fair outcome, but you must be cautious about what questions you answer and what information you give them.
Avoid talking about the severity of the injuries and the kind of treatment you’re receiving. Sometimes, they may ask you to record the statement. Reject such a request because they could use it against you. Also, ensure that you stick to the facts and avoid giving opinions.
If you’re unsure about something, tell them you don’t know. It’s essential to gather information about any for future reference, so you could ask that they provide their name and contact information, which you would then share with your lawyer.
Let a Lawyer Handle All Legal Matters
The insurance company may offer unsolicited compensation for your injuries. In most cases, this offer is nowhere close to what the victim deserves, and it comes on the condition that you sign release papers absolving the defendant from further liability. While you may need money, it’s never a good idea to settle without involving a lawyer.
Sometimes they may convince you to sign a medical release authorization which gives them access to all your medical records, including records irrelevant to the accident, which they could use against you. For example, they could use your medical history to claim you had a pre-existing condition before the accident, which could give grounds for lowering the value of your claim.
To be safe, let anything that involves signing a lawyer handle documents because you may not know what you’re signing away and the impact it may have on your claim.
It Is Not Worth the Risk
“The risks involved in talking to an insurer outweigh the benefits by huge margins. Since you’re not obligated to talk to them, there is no reason you should answer their questions unless your lawyer gives you the green light and they are present to help you answer the questions,” says personal injury lawyer Maxwell Paderewski of Lone Star Injury Attorneys, PLLC.
The best thing about working with a car accident lawyer is they only charge a contingency fee of 25 to 40 percent of the total payout.
While this figure may sound like much, statistics show that victims stand a better chance of fair compensation when working with a lawyer, even after considering the legal fees, and you do not pay if they lose the case.
