Your insurance company needs to collect details from you after a serious accident to process the claim, but it’s not a good idea to provide more information than necessary.
If you recently sustained injuries in an accident, it’s natural to want to reasonably participate in the legal and insurance claim process.
Sharing information about your claim may be your first instinct if an insurance adjuster has reached out to you to get further information about your claim. However, don’t provide more information than necessary to the insurance adjuster or you could be exposing yourself to major risks.
Insurance adjusters are not your friend
For this reason, you need to an experienced personal injury law firm like Pepper Odom to protect you before you say anything or sign any releases coming from the insurance company. You might think that you are doing yourself a favor by protecting yourself in this way. However, you are actually only making it easier for the insurance adjuster to take your words and tweak them. They will make it seem as though you are not being upfront or you have some responsibility for the accident.
Pitfalls of talking to insurance adjusters
The tactics used by the insurance adjusters are usually unknown to most people. Insurance adjusters will attempt to get information out of the victim for use against him or her in the claim.
When people are honest, they naturally assume their treatment will be fair. You may feel inclined to be honest about the situation and talk openly to the adjuster.
However, usually they are unaware of what they are saying is being used against them until it is too late. Many of the victims believe they have a suitable case based on their knowledge of laws in connection with accident cases when, in actuality, it is quite the opposite.
For a person to receive compensation for their claim, they must go through quite a few legal hurdles they will receive their compensation fairly. Unfortunately, many legal risks may await the unknowing victim as they seek compensation.
The adjusters will often ask for a recorded statement from the victim. Victims in question could be fully truthful for the record, but later on during trial, the insurance company could try to show inconsistencies while comparing the testimony at trial and your statement.
The insurance company’s lawyer usually uses this contradiction to invalidate the victim’s character. This usually will cause the defendant to be found more credible than the victim in the case.
Your best interest is not the adjuster's best interst
It is usually not in your best interest if you talk directly to the insurance adjuster because they are not there to represent that interest. Usually, it is best to hire a personal injury attorney to better handle the insurance adjuster so that you do not have to communicate to the adjuster directly.
Remember, the insurance company will not represent your best interests.
Necessary cooperation and other stipulations
Cooperation of the victim with the adjuster is necessary in certain instances. In some situations, the victim could have to report to their own insurance company if, for example, they lived in a no-fault state.
After being involved in a car accident, the victim could have obligations from their own insurance company to where they must speak with them. Usually, people are not required to talk to other people’s insurance company. On top of gathering information against the victim, the adjuster may request a medical release form to be signed.
From this point, the insurance company can legally access the victim’s medical records after receiving the aforementioned medical release. The releases are usually a much wider search than needed. Insurance companies may try to use this information they have gathered to deny a victim’s claim.
You need an experienced personal injury lawer
The right Lawyer can help you navigate this complex process by assisting you with avoiding making any statements or signing any releases that would give up your rights. The right Lawyer can stop the insurance company from delaying or denying your claim.
Only your injury Attorney is interested in protecting your rights in the event of an accident. Share all of the information upfront with your experienced personal injury Lawyer.
Provide as little details as possible while still complying with the insurance adjuster’s request if you are contacted by an insurance adjuster after an accident. The right Lawyer will serve as your go-between with the insurance company.
Therefore, you have a reduced likelihood of making any comments that could be misinterpreted. If the insurance adjuster continues to reach out to you, tell them you have a Lawyer and contact the Attorney instead.
To learn more about Pepper & Odom Injury Lawyers, visit our home page.
Pepper & Odom Injury Lawyers 601-202-1111