If you’ve never been in a car crash before, you might expect that your insurance company will fight for a fair settlement while you rest and recover. After all, you have been paying your premiums, and you expect something in return.
While this is a common view, it is rarely a reality. More often than not, insurance companies employ proven tricks that either shift assigned fault or reduce the compensation the injured need to move forward.
To help you identify and avoid these traps, we need to go over 3 reasons why you shouldn’t talk to the insurance companies after a crash.
Recorded Statements
When you call the insurance company to report the crash, you may hear that the call is being recorded. In other cases, the insurance adjuster will ask if you’d like to provide a few words “for the record.” If you hear any indication that the call is being recorded, consider it a huge red flag.
When the call is being recorded, expect anything you say to the insurance adjuster can and will be used against you. Seemingly innocent statements like, “I didn’t even see him coming,” could be used to shift your assigned fault and make it much harder to recover the full compensation you need to move forward.
Casting Doubt
In other cases, the insurance company may question whether your injuries are genuine or if they are unrelated to the crash. This is why it’s so important to see a doctor immediately after an accident.
Even if you don’t have symptoms for a few days (perhaps due to a latent injury like internal bleeding), the insurance company could argue that there’s no proof linking your pain to the crash. For that reason, you need to carefully document your injuries and make sure your doctor is giving you a thorough assessment every time you visit them.
Saying Too Much
Finally, beware of saying too much to the insurance company. Insurance adjusters are trained negotiators. It is their job to save their company money. They have scripts designed to make you say more than you intended, which can inadvertently harm your case.
Similarly, if you ever feel the insurance adjuster is pressuring you, politely end the call and contact your attorney. Remember, after you report the crash, there is no requirement to talk to the insurance company without your attorney present, no matter what the adjuster claims.
In these heated situations, it’s often best to let a professional car accident attorney handle the negotiating so you can rest and recover.
If you or someone you love were seriously injured in a crash, we can fight for you. If you’d like an experienced Connecticut accident attorney from RisCassi & Davis, P.C. to evaluate your case, don’t hesitate to call us at (860) 245-2412 or send us an email!