After our clients have been involved in car accidents, two of the first questions they ask us are the following: “What should I say to the insurance company? What should I not say to the insurance company?” The most important thing to keep in mind when speaking with an insurance company is to be very cautious and guarded, because their mission is to find out whatever information benefits them. You may think that they have your best interests at heart, but they want to come away from this paying as little as possible. This means that they will either try to minimize your claim or deny it altogether, depending on the information they obtain from you. This is why it is best if you say as little as possible. Anything you say can be twisted to be used against you and in favor of the other party.
Only Give Objective Information that Is Requested
When dealing with the other driver’s insurance company, it is best if you only give objective information that is requested, such as the date of the accident, your insurance policy information, and your contact information, to name a few examples. It is also safest if you can limit your communication to letters as opposed to talking on the phone or in person. This will reduce the chance of you saying something that you might later regret.
“I Want to Consult my Attorney First”
Remember that you have the right to not speak with the other driver’s insurance adjuster. If you do not feel comfortable talking with him or her on your own—and even if you do feel comfortable—we advise you to employ your right to an attorney. Simply say that you would like to consult your attorney before discussing anything further, and then contact a personal injury attorney. For many conversations, an attorney can speak on your behalf, which takes any and all pressure off of you.
In terms of your own insurance company, you have an obligation under your insurance contract to speak with them, but you still want to be very cautious about anything you sign or about giving a recorded statement. The best thing to do is to speak with a lawyer about what your rights are and about the facts of your case; then you can make an informed decision about how to best speak with the insurance companies involved.
Click here to learn more about how to deal with insurance companies.
Hire an Attorney, Pay Nothing unless You Recover Compensation
Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident is extremely complicated and should be handled with much care. It is not something to be handled on your own. A car accident attorney can advise you on how to move forward; in fact, he or she will take care of many of the things that would normally fall on your shoulders. Fill out the form below, or give us a call at (256) 533-1667, to speak with one of our Alabama accident attorneys. Initial consultations are FREE and we work on a contingency basis, which means that you pay us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.