By Platt Hopwood Attorneys at Law PLLC posted in Injuries on Monday, August 1, 2016.
They’re taking steps to protect their interests. Make sure you are, too.
View part two of this post for more insurance company secrets.
After a car accident, you probably just want to get the matter resolved so you can get your medical bills paid, fix your car and move on with your life. In order to do that, you have to cooperate with your insurance company’s investigation of the accident and follow their guidelines for filing a claim. You may have already gotten phone calls from your adjuster.
Insurance adjusters – whether they’re representing your or another driver involved in an accident – may seem really nice. They may check up on you or even visit you in the hospital to “see how you’re doing.”
Insurance adjusters may seem like they’re on your side, but it is important to remember that they’re doing a job and that job is not to protect you. There are several things the insurer doesn’t want you to know:
- The insurance company representative has already talked to a lawyer – Before reaching out to you at all, the adjuster is talking to insurance company lawyers to determine what questions to ask, how to ask them and how to protect themselves. Consider taking steps to protect yourself as well.
- A quick settlement may not be the way to go – We know that dealing with an insurance claim is a hassle and you might just want to take what you’re offered and move on. But what happens if your doctor discovers additional injuries from the accident? What if the settlement offer isn’t enough? If you have any concerns about getting what you deserve after an accident, it might be time to talk to a lawyer.
- Signing a release can hurt you – Before paying out your claim, the insurance company may ask that you sign a release. This typically shields them from future liability and prevents you from bringing legal action if you find they acted in bad faith. Always talk to a lawyer before signing any legal document.
In our next post, we discuss three more secrets that car insurance companies keep from accident victims.
Have you ever gone through the car insurance claims process? What do you wish you had known in advance? Tell us in the comments.
