After getting hurt in an accident, a representative from the insurance company may reach out to you to discuss your injury claim or potential claim. However, talking to an insurance adjuster before consulting a personal injury attorney could jeopardize your compensation claims. An attorney can advise you on what to say and what not to say to the insurance company and prepare you for the tactics that insurers use to minimize or deny claims.
The Role of Insurance Companies
Insurance companies frequently provide benefits and liability coverage that pay for accident victims’ losses from their injuries and property damage. However, as for-profit businesses, insurers want to maximize their revenue from insurance premiums by minimizing payouts. As a result, insurance adjusters have numerous tactics to delay, minimize, or deny payment of injury claims. These tactics include contacting accident victims before they’ve had a chance to seek legal counsel to gain information the insurer can use against the accident victim or convince them to accept less than full value for their claim.
Risks of Speaking to Insurance Without Legal Advice
Some of the challenges you might face in talking to insurance adjusters before seeking legal advice from a personal injury attorney include:
- Inadvertently making incriminating statements: Although you might not directly admit to causing an accident that injured you when speaking with an adjuster, you might say things that an adjuster could construe as an admission of fault, such as apologizing for the accident (even if you do so reflexively) or saying things like, “I didn’t see them.”
- Giving recorded statements: Adjusters may ask you to provide a written or recorded statement about the accident. However, putting statements on the record allows the insurance company to selectively use portions of your statement out of context to shift blame for an accident onto you.
- Minimizing your injuries: You might say things to an adjuster that downplay the severity of your injuries. Even responding “I’m doing well” when starting a conversation with an adjuster who asks, “How are you?” may lead the insurance company to minimize the seriousness of your injuries. Furthermore, you should refrain from downplaying your injuries out of pride or embarrassment.
- Accepting quick settlements: Insurers frequently offer quick, low-ball settlements to close claims before accident victims understand the true extent of their injuries. An adjuster may focus on your increasing medical expenses or lost wages to pressure you into accepting money now. However, doing so will give up your right to seek further compensation from the insurance company.
How an Attorney Protects You
A personal injury lawyer can protect you during the insurance claims process by:
- Handling communications with insurance adjusters
- Protecting your interests by ensuring insurers do not use your statements out of context
- Determining the full extent of your financial and personal losses, including medical expenses, long-term care costs, lost income/earning capacity, and pain and suffering
- Evaluating settlement offers to check whether they offer fair compensation, and negotiating for higher compensation
What to Do If the Insurance Company Contacts You
When the insurance company contacts you unprompted after an accident, you can best protect your interests by remaining polite with the adjuster but declining to give a recorded statement or discuss the accident in detail. Furthermore, you should decline to sign documents without first consulting an attorney. If you have legal representation, you can tell the insurance company to contact your lawyer instead of you.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer Today
When you’ve suffered injuries in an accident, hiring experienced legal counsel can help you in your dealings with the insurance company. Contact Hutch Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a personal injury lawyer for guidance and advocacy as you pursue an insurance claim for your harm and losses.