After being involved in a motor vehicle accident, one of the first calls you will receive is from the other party’s insurance adjuster. During this phone call and all subsequent calls, it is important to be careful with what you say. The insurance adjuster’s job is to resolve your claim while incurring as little cost as possible to the insurance company, so it is crucial to avoid saying anything that may jeopardize your chances of securing fair compensation.
Watch What You Say
As a general rule of thumb, when speaking to an insurance adjuster, it is best never to volunteer information. Moreover, you should never say you are sorry or use language that might suggest you are at fault for the accident. Even if you believe you are at fault for the accident, you might be wrong, so let everyone do their jobs instead of readily admitting to fault.
After an accident, it may take time to assess the extent of any injuries you sustained. Therefore, you must never discuss your injuries or sign any waivers allowing access to your medical information. Once you reach maximum medical improvement, you and your attorney can divulge the extent of your injuries when you draft a demand letter and begin negotiating compensation. Until then, it is much too soon to provide this information.
The insurance adjuster will likely ask you to provide a recorded statement and, although it might seem like you should oblige this request, you are actually not required to do so. Politely decline any requests for a recorded statement. Most importantly, if the adjuster offers a settlement, do not accept it until you speak to an experienced personal injury attorney. Such offers are generally too low and, unfortunately, once you agree to accept it, you cannot appeal the court for additional compensation.
Discuss the Details of Your Personal Injury Claim with a Knowledgeable Attorney
If you were injured in an accident, it is imperative that you secure skilled legal counsel as soon as possible. The aftermath of an accident can be a confusing and difficult time. An attorney can advise you on how to proceed and ensure you do not make any unnecessary mistakes. At Eliot Reiner, APLC, our personal injury attorney is backed by more than 30 years of experience and a history of proven success, you can rest assured you will receive the best possible results for your case when you choose to work with us.
Reach out to our law office today at (916) 778-3228 to schedule a free initial consultation with our experienced attorney.