Knowing how to communicate with an insurance company after an accident is a critical part of your injury claim. The insurance company will be looking for holes in your claim and reasons to deny benefits. The more you know about what information to give – and to withhold – the more you can protect yourself during negotiations with an insurance carrier. If you do not wish to communicate with the insurance company on your own, you always have the right to hire a car accident lawyer in Omaha to do so for you.
Basic Facts of the Crash
First, the insurance company will request basic information about your car accident. This may include the number of parties involved, the number of vehicles damaged, and the time, date and location of the crash. You may also need to give the other driver’s information, including his or her name and the name of the driver’s insurance carrier. Finally, the insurance company will ask for your police report number. If you did not call the police to report the car crash, this could hurt your claim.
It can help to gather this information beforehand so that your conversation with the insurance claims adjuster – the professional assigned to your claim – goes smoother. The more information you have about your car accident, the stronger you can make your claim. Write down as much as you can remember about the car accident immediately afterward, while the memories are still fresh in your mind. Speak to eyewitnesses and request a copy of your police report for more information.
Proof of Your Losses
Once the insurance claims adjuster obtains information from you by questioning you as a witness, he or she will contact the other driver with similar questions. Then, the insurance company will investigate the accident further by reviewing evidence and photographs, revisiting the scene of the accident, examining property damage in person, and taking other actions.
Next, the insurance company will ask you for proof of your losses. It is your responsibility to demonstrate that you suffered losses in the car accident, such as physical injuries and property damage. You can do this by submitting evidence in the form of your medical records, bills, paystubs, letters from your doctor and employer, photographs, and videos.
What Not to Say to an Insurance Company
Perhaps even more important than knowing what to say to an insurance claims adjuster is knowing what not to say. During your conversations with a claims adjuster or another representative from the insurance company, be careful not to say anything that could hurt your case. The insurance company will be looking for reasons to deny coverage or reduce your payout. The adjuster may twist what you say around to use against you.
Keep the following tips in mind when discussing your car accident claim with an insurer:
- Do not admit fault for the accident or injuries.
- Do not speculate about fault if you aren’t sure who is to blame.
- Do not give long, narrative answers to questions.
- Do not say you don’t have any injuries until you’ve been to a doctor.
- Do not agree to give the adjuster a recorded statement.
- Do not give the insurance company permission to access your medical records.
- Do not accept a settlement until you’ve spoken to an attorney.
You do not have to handle the claims process on your own after a serious car accident in Omaha. You have the right to hire legal representation to take over insurance claim negotiations on your behalf. A car accident lawyer can communicate with the claims adjuster for you, protecting your right to recover maximum financial compensation every step of the way. A lawyer will know how to handle conversations with claims adjusters, as well as what documents and information to submit to the insurance company for a stronger claim.
For more advice about how to handle the insurance claims process after a car crash, contact an attorney near you.