Dealing with insurance companies can be a complicated process. Remember, despite what you see on TV, the Internet, and the radio, the goal of insurance companies is to make money, not to pay out injury claims.
One of the more complicated aspects after a car accident is dealing with an insurance company, whether it’s your insurance company or the other driver’s insurance company. When you are the victim of a catastrophic or traumatic event, such as a car collision, you don’t want to spend time haggling with insurance companies to get the compensation you need for medical bills, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses that are accumulated. After you have been injured in a collision, your primary focus should be on your health, not dealing with an insurance company. If you need to file a personal injury or property damage claim, it’s important to understand the process and avoid the tricks insurance companies use so you can get the money to help you recover medically and financially after a collision.
The U.S. insurance industry is one of the largest in the world, with net premiums totaling $1.4 trillion in 2021. Insurance companies make money by collecting premiums, not paying claims. Even if you have been a loyal customer of the same insurance company for years and never filed a claim, once you file a car accident claim, the insurance company will forget your years of loyalty and the premiums you paid. And they will do everything they can to pay you as little as possible on your claim.
Despite the vast financial resources of insurance companies, countless people struggle to get the money they need to cover their medical bills, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses that inevitably occur after an accident. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to increase your chances of getting the money you need back. First, please consider hiring an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible after the collision and let her deal with the insurance company. But if you’re talking to an insurance company after the wreck, remember the following.
1. Be prepared
Before you connect Yours insurance company, you will want to do the following:
Get medical help: After you have been in an accident or suffered an injury, seeking immediate medical attention is vital. Again, your health is the number one priority. The best way to make sure you recover from your injuries is to seek immediate medical attention immediately after a collision. It also helps prevent injuries from getting worse.
Second, if you delay in seeking post-collision medical treatment or there are gaps in your post-collision medical treatment, the insurance companies that must pay for your damages will try to use the gap in treatment against you. The insurance company may argue that if your injuries are as severe as you say, then you didn’t wait to receive treatment and there will be no gaps in treatment. However, the reality is that sometimes your body is full of adrenaline after a collision and you may not realize you are injured until a day or two after the collision. If this happens, seek immediate medical attention as soon as you feel pain from the break.
Collect insurance information from other wreckers: If someone else is legally responsible for your injuries resulting from the wreck, make sure you get their insurance information, preferably at the scene of the collision (but getting someone’s insurance information is secondary to getting immediate medical attention).
Collect details: Be as detailed as possible when filing an insurance claim. Gather information on everyone involved in the break-in, including contact information, license plates, insurance information. And keep detailed records of all injuries, damages, bills, photos and videos of the accident scene, police reports, witness statements, and any other related documentation.
2. Know your rights under your policy
An insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance company (or between the person who caused the accident and their insurance company). Before contacting your insurance company, make sure you have a complete copy of your policy. Insurance companies like to make insurance policies very difficult to read, but review your insurance policy carefully to understand the scope of your coverage and your and your insurance company’s obligations under the policy. Pay special attention to the page of your declaration that outlines the amount of your policy benefits. For example, the declaration page will let you know if you have underinsured/uninsured coverage, personal injury coverage, or medpay coverage and collision coverage.
Reviewing the insurance policy is also helpful because you need to know the requirements and procedures for filing a claim and what to do after a collision. Familiarizing yourself with your policy can help limit misunderstandings and conflicts with your insurer. Again, consider hiring an attorney to help you understand your rights under your policy and try to get the other insurance policies that may come into effect because of the collision, such as the at-fault driver’s policy.
3. Hire a lawyer or at least seek legal advice
Although some personal injury claims can be settled without legal representation, personal injury attorneys can help take the burden of dealing with insurance companies off your back and allow you to focus on recovering from your injuries. Hiring a personal injury attorney can help you avoid dealing with an insurance company altogether.
Personal injury attorneys who handle car accident cases are skilled at dealing with insurance adjusters. They understand the way insurance companies are involved in the games. An attorney can help you avoid pitfalls that could prevent you from recovering benefits under your policy or the at-fault party’s insurance policy.
For example, the at-fault party’s insurance company adjusters will often contact you soon after the accident and try to get you to provide a recorded statement. This regulator does not have your best interest at heart. They look out for the best interest of the at-fault party’s insurance company, which means paying you as little money as possible. During the recorded statement, the adjuster may ask confusing questions to try to get you to admit that you caused the wreck or that your damages are not as serious as you claim.
If you have a personal injury attorney who handles car accident cases, she can help you navigate this process or help you avoid it altogether. But don’t forget that your own insurance policy may impose liability on you after a collision. For example, your insurance policy may require you to cooperate with your insurance company’s investigation of the collision, which may include giving a recorded statement. Even so, it is wise to have an experienced attorney who can help you prepare for this statement and guide you through the process.
It is common for insurance companies to deny claims or employ certain tactics that make it difficult for injured parties to get the money they deserve. For example, persuading you to provide a recorded statement that can be used against you or tricking you into signing documents that may affect your rights in the future. A personal injury attorney can help you navigate the complex and sometimes adversarial process of dealing with insurance companies by protecting your rights.
4. Follow the deadlines in your insurance policy
Most insurance policies also require claimants to report their claims and provide information within a certain time frame. Prompt reporting of injuries and timely filing of claims helps preserve your rights under your policy. For example, if you are at fault for the collision, your insurance company must provide you with an attorney and pay compensation up to your policy limit. This is why it is important to notify the insurance company of the collision, otherwise they may claim that you did not comply with the requirements of the insurance policy and try to avoid defending you or paying on the claim.
5. Recording information
Record every conversation you have with an insurance company representative. Write down the name of the insurance company, the phone number, and the company representative you speak with. Document the date and time of your call and any information provided to you. If you communicate with an insurance company by email, keep all your emails in a designated folder for easy access. Remember to be careful with all emails because anything you write in an email can show up later and the insurance company or their attorney may try to use that email against you.
Dealing with insurance companies can be a complicated process. Remember, despite what you see on TV, the Internet, and the radio, the goal of insurance companies is to make money, not to pay out injury claims. It is important to be organized and persistent. By following these tips, you can increase your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.